DuPage County Distrct 5 Newsletter (5/18)

Starting June 1, the DuPage County sales tax will fall by a quarter-cent. That portion of the sales tax currently funds the DuPage Water Commission, which has decided to eliminate the tax as it moves toward becoming a self-sustaining utility.

The Commission has made several reforms that make the elimination of the sales tax possible, including paying off all its debt early, which saved taxpayers $10 million in interest payments. The reduction in sales tax will return an estimated $33 million annually to consumers.

Board Chairman Dan Cronin (far right) and County Board members Jim Healy (far left) and Bob Larsen (second from right) accepted a $2 million pledge of support for the DuPage Convalescent Center from retired DuPage County Judge Kenneth Moy (third from right). Moy hopes his donation will serve as the basis for a new capital campaign to benefit the Convalescent Center. Moy said his wife’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease influenced him to make the donation to the center.

DuPage County Board Member Jim Healy received an award from the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) honoring his efforts to win passage of federal transportation legislation, now known as the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.

Healy served as the chairman of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Transportation Committee from 2013 to 2015.  He received the award Feb. 21 in Washington, D.C.

President Obama signed the FAST Act into law in December 2015.  It is the first law in 10 years that provides long-term funding for surface transportation projects. FAST Act streamlines the distribution of its transportation funds, in many cases, delivering it directly to local entities doing the projects.

County Board Economic Development Chairwoman Tonia Khouri recently attended a presentation focused on growing tourism earlier this month hosted by the DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau at Benedictine University.

County Board members Jim Healy (far left) and Tony Michelassi (second from left) met with leaders of the DuPage County African American community following a County Board meeting where they were presented a proclamation.

The proclamation commemorated the 48th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, acknowledged the contributions African Americans have made throughout our nation’s history and recognized the ethnic and racial diversity that enriches and strengthens DuPage County.

County Board members Tonia Khouri (top photo) and Jim Healy (bottom photo) attended the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce’s general membership luncheon, where Mayor Steve Chirico gave his first State of the City address.

The Daily Herald Business Ledger announced Giving DuPage as a notable nonprofit as part of its annual Awards for Business Excellence.

The award recognizes business achievement, growth and community involvement. With a mission to promote giving and volunteering in DuPage County, Giving DuPage is a nonprofit organization that provides an online Volunteer Portal highlighting hundreds of local volunteer opportunities for DuPage-area charities. In 2015, the Volunteer Portal connected more than 1,000 volunteers to local nonprofit organizations. To further celebrate volunteers, Giving DuPage organizes a countywide recognition event called Volapalooza.

Giving DuPage also hosts the DuPage Human Race, a 5K community event that raises awareness and funds for 70 participating charity organizations. In five years, the DuPage Human Race has attracted more than 6,500 participants and raised more than $340,000 for local nonprofits.

County Board members Jim Healy (left) and Tony Michelassi (right) represented DuPage County at the National Association of Counties annual Legislative Conference this February in Washington, D.C.

The DuPage County Department of Community Services is offering college and occupational training scholarships for low-income individuals with high academic potential.

The Community Services Block Grant scholarship supplements the cost of tuition, books, supplies and other school-related items for a semester or a quarter to offset the student’s needs. This scholarship is funded and designed in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Applicants are required to provide proof of DuPage County residency, gross household income for the past 90 days and information about members living in the household. Income for the household must be at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. Applicants must also include a 500-word original essay or personal statement, official school transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a Financial Aid Audit (financial aid award letter) and proof of enrollment in an Illinois accredited institution.

It is anticipated that up to 10 scholarships will be awarded for amounts ranging from $500 to $1,000. Special consideration is given to students interested in high technology fields or other occupations in emerging fields.

Applications are available at the DuPage County Department of Community Services Office, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, or online at www.dupageco.org/CSBG. Completed applications and support documents must be received by 4:30 p.m. June 1.

County Board Economic Development Committee Chairwoman Tonia Khouri (second from right) recently attended the DuPage County Regional Business Outlook to hear about the County’s and state’s economic outlook. She also had a chance to meet with Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger before she gave the keynote address at the luncheon.

Those cans of latex paint in your garage or basement can be recycled and turned into new paint through the DuPage County Latex Paint Recycling Program, which is located at the Woodridge Greene Valley Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Residents can drop off their usable, unwanted latex paint during designated summer collections free of charge. The county will only accept latex paint that has not been frozen, is less than 10-years-old and has not been mixed with other products. The paint will be filtered and re-blended into a variety of colors, types and finishes.

The recycled paint will then be offered free of charge to residents, businesses and non-profit organizations in 5-gallon containers beginning June 13.

Residents can drop off their unwanted latex paint at the Woodridge Greene Valley Wastewater Treatment Facility, 7900 S. Route 53 in Woodridge, on weekdays starting June 6 through July 29 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Paint can also be dropped off on Saturdays, June 18 and 25 and July 9, 16 and 23 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Since the start of the program in 2001, the County has collected more than 82,000 gallons of paint and distributed more than 41,000 gallons of recycled paint. The program has served more than 13,500 residents. In addition, the County recently partnered with Catholic Charities to distribute recycled paint to low-income families at their Back-to-School Fair.

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at (630) 985-7400 or the Environmental Division at (630) 407-6700 or visit the website at www.dupageco.org/recycling.

On May 6, District 1 Board Member Don Puchalski voted with the majority of the O’Hare Noise Compatibility Commission (ONCC) to approve a six-month test for a Runway Rotation Plan at O’Hare International Airport during overnight hours. He reported details of the plan at the May 10 DuPage County Board meeting.

The Runway Rotation spreads aircraft noise across the region based on a weekly calendar, providing predictability to residents and relief from aircraft noise. The plan is the culmination of nearly a year of work by the ONCC, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Suburban O’Hare Commission to reduce aircraft noise.

The Chicago Department of Aviation will submit the plan to the Federal Aviation Administration for review and approval. Implementation of the rotation plan could begin as early as June or July 2016.

To view the proposed Runway Rotation plan, go to http://www.oharenoise.org/about-oncc/newsroom/38-2016/128-oncc-approves-runway-rotation-plan-to-balance-o-hare-nighttime-noise. The Suburban O’Hare Commission is looking for weekly feedback on the Rotation Plan. You can send feedback to the commission at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OHareRRPFeedback1.

Memorial Day Ceremony – May 29

DuPage County will host a ceremony in observance of Memorial Day at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, at the DuPage County Government Complex in Wheaton. The ceremony will take place at the Veterans Memorial, located outside near the pond on the DuPage County Government Complex, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton. The memorial commemorates DuPage County residents who lost their lives in military conflicts at home and abroad beginning with the Black Hawk War in 1832 and continuing on to the most recent engagements overseas.

County Offices Closed – May 30

The County offices will be closed on Monday, May 30, to observe Memorial Day.

First Property Tax Installment Due – June 1

The first installment of 2015 property tax payments are due to the treasurer’s office by Tuesday, June 1.

Convalescent Center Golf Outing – June 15

The DuPage Convalescent Center will host its 13th Annual Golf Outing on Wednesday, June 15, at the Bloomingdale Golf Club in Bloomingdale. Registration and lunch begin at 11 a.m. Shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m. with the buffet dinner starting at 6 p.m. Registration fees are $180 per individual golfer and $720 for a foursome. Dinner-only tickets cost $55. For more information or to register for the DPCC Foundation Golf Outing, call 630-784-4267 or visit the Foundation website at www.dpccfoundation.org.