IN THIS EDITION: Board to discuss body cams; cops probe flipped cake


Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steve Casstevens is expected to present information and current recommendations concerning the use of body mounted cameras in police patrol functions to the Village Board at its Committee of the Whole meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3.

In his report to the Board, Casstevens says that “early estimates to outfit the BGPD with cameras for every officer, which would include cameras, hardware, software, licenses, cloud storage, redaction capabilities, charging stations, replacement cameras after 2 ½ years and again at five years, would be $290,000”

His report also notes that “this does not include additional costs for Records (Department) personnel to respond to FOIA requests for video, which would include staff time for searching, redacting and copying. Staff time would also increase substantially for Records (Department) personnel to send video links to the prosecutor’s office on all videos that resulted in an arrest, as well as many traffic stop videos.”

The full agenda packet, including Casstevens’ full report can be found here,

The meeting will be held in person with capacity-limited physical attendance. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and CDC guidelines for social distancing, physical attendance is limited to 20 persons in addition to elected officials and village staff. All meeting participants should observe CDC-published guidelines for social distancing while attending the meeting, which will also be broadcast via Facebook Live. Please note: comments on the stream will not be monitored by village staff and will not be read into the official record.

Residents can also participate by submitting their public comment to the village clerk at clerk@vbg.org or by calling 847-459-2506 before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3.

COVID-19 vaccine availability update

** Vaccine scheduled at Schaumburg Convention Center -- The member communities of JEMS (the Northwest Suburban Illinois Joint Emergency Management System) which includes Buffalo Grove, are partnering for a second time with Jewel-Osco for a mass vaccination event at the Schaumburg Convention Center. The first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available Thursday, May 6, with the second dose scheduled for Thursday, May 27. Registration can be completed at this link. For more information, click here. The event is open to all Buffalo Grove residents age 16 and up.

** Lake County Vaccination Site Offers New Evening Hours -- Starting Wednesday, May 5 the COVID-19 vaccine will be available at the Lake County Fairgrounds vaccination site will be available every Wednesday until 7 p.m.

People who live or work in Lake County and are age 16 and up are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For more information and to register for an appointment, click here or call (847) 377-8130.

** In-home COVID-19 vaccines for homebound residents -- The Cook County Department of Health is offering in-home vaccinations to individuals who are unable to access one of the county's vaccination sites due to medical reasons.

Qualified residents can sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at home by clicking here. Note: This service is only available to suburban Cook County residents.

Vernon Twp. plans blood drive

Vernon Township is co-hosting a blood drive with State Rep. Dan Didech (D-59) at the Community Service Building from 9 a.m. to 2 pm. on Tuesday, May 11, at the Vernon Township Community Service Building located at 2900 N. Main St. in Buffalo Grove.  If you are interested in signing up to donate blood, click on this link.

 BG Park registration starts May 3

The Park District’s summer program guide is available at  this link. Registration begins Monday, May 3.

Construction of outdoor fitness area begins

Work has begun on a new outdoor group exercise area at the Buffalo Grove Park District’s Fitness Center The project includes a new 40-foot x 40-foot rubber workout surface for group exercise programs. Construction is scheduled to be completed by mid-May, weather permitting.

Work begins on Rt. 83 May 3

The Illinois Department if Transportation (IDOT) will perform concrete road patching on Illinois Rt. 83 from Buffalo Grove Road to Illinois Rt. 22 beginning Monday, May 3 and continuing through the end of September. The roadwork will likely result in some daily lane closures and a few overnight closures.

 

Police Reports

Can you dig it – While police were investigating a parked vehicle, an officer observed a man running with a shovel near the driveway entrance by the marsh. At the officer’s request, he stopped running. The man was issued an adjudication citation for damage to village property for digging up two plant bulbs. No indication if his bail was paid with seed money.

Talk about getting flipped off --- Police were summoned to a local restaurant after a “frequent customer” and a female came into the restaurant not wearing a mask. When he was asked to wear a mask, reports say the man became verbally aggressive and began to swear and shout at the manager. The man asked for his money back and flipped a small tray of cakes sitting on the counter. The couple was gone by the time police arrived.

 Food drive underway

            The Buffalo Grove Police Department’s “Stuff the Squad” food drive is underway. Members of the Department will be collecting food on Saturday, May 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jewel-Osco at Jewel 79 McHenry Rd., Buffalo Grove, and from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Target at 1400 E. Lake Cook Rd. in Wheeling.

            The Department is coordinating with local school districts for “Stuff the Squad” events at nine local elementary schools as part of the donation drive.

 

School Notes

 Stevenson gets high ranking

Stevenson High School was recognized as one of the top high schools in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2021 Best High Schools Rankings.

In a Facebook post, the school said “While we are thrilled to rank in the top 1 percent of high schools in the nation, what makes us most proud is that Stevenson is the top ranked open enrollment public high school in our state.”

You can check out our entire U.S. News profile here at this link.

 D21 hires new assistant principals

School District 21 has hired the first two of seven assistant principals. Hired by the School Board last week were Sara Rosheger who will support Longfellow Elementary School and Annette McBride who will support Kilmer Elementary School

This week’s “feel good” item   

As the Public Works Department cleaned out some storm water catch basins, the village's sewer and drainage crew members met a pair of neighborhood kids who were excited to see the Vac truck in operation.

(Photo from Facebook)

The kids posed for a picture with village employees Ryan Serkowski and Shane Firnbach. Cleaning these catch basins keeps extra materials - like road grit and unused winter salt - out of streams and creeks and helps protect the natural environment.

 

 

   

Student Voices

Here are links to the student newspapers at Stevenson and Buffalo Grove high schools.

Buffalo Grove High School Charger

Stevenson High School Statesman

 

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