Community Alerts & Info.
- Theft Alert
- Community Alert
- Community Alert
MeterSave is a new program offered by the City of Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) to non-metered Chicago homeowners to voluntarily install meters to help them save water and save money.
Water charges in non-metered homes are tied to factors such as building size, lot-size and the number of plumbing fixtures. However, metered homes are billed according to actual water usage. This means that with minimal effort, participating homeowners could save money on their water bills. Because customers with metered homes pay only for the water they use, they can save money while at the same time helping to protect Lake Michigan and save water.
The City of Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) will install a meter complete with the automatic meter reading (AMR) technology in your home free of charge. AMR technology allows readings to be transmitted via wireless radio technology to DWM vehicles as they drive by, eliminating the need for meter readings to take place inside the home.
Homeowners of non-metered, residential single-family or two-flat residences in the MeterSave program will receive a 7-year guarantee that their water charges won't go higher than what they would have been if the meter had not been installed.
Upon installation of the meter, and while supplies last, homeowners will be eligible for the following additional incentives:
· A rain barrel, or
· An outdoor water conservation kit
· A hose timer
· Rain gauge
· Water restricting hose nozzle
· Moisture sensor
· An indoor water conservation kit, or
· Low flow shower head
· A shower timer
· Toilet flapper
· Leak Detection Tablets
· Toilet tank bank--a toilet tank water displacement pouch
· 4-quart fill cycle diverter that helps save water after flushing the toilet
· Swivel low-flow kitchen aerator
· Two bathroom sink aerators
· Teflon tape
· Water Conservation wheel
· Water meter monitor (a refrigerator magnet that shows water usage)
For more information or to enroll in the program, visit the MeterSave website.
- Parking Meter Rates in 2010 - From Alderman Tunney
On-street metered parking rates in the City of Chicago will be adjusted in early 2010 based on the rate schedule included as part of the parking meter concession agreement.
Inside the Loop (the area bounded by Lake Michigan to the East, Wacker Drive to the North and West, and Congress Parkway to the South), rates will be adjusted from $3.50 to $4.25 per hour. In the Central Business District outside the Loop (the area bounded by Lake Michigan to the East, North Avenue to the North, Halsted to the West, and Roosevelt Road to the South) rates will be adjusted from $2.00 to $2.50 per hour.
Within the 44th Ward, rates will be adjusted from $1.00 to $1.25 per hour.
The transition to the new rates will begin on January 4th, starting with the Loop and moving outward to the rest of the City. Weather permitting, the transition will be completed by January 31, 2010.
As the transition moves forward, motorists are only responsible for paying the posted rate on the meter pay boxes.
- Request for Information re: Armed Robbery
On December 13, 2009 at approximately 1115 pm, an Armed Robbery with a hand gun occurred in the 800 block of west Dickens. The offender approached the victim, produced a blue steel semi-automatic handgun and demanded the victim turn over his money. After giving the offender his wallet, the offender ran west bound on Dickens.
The victim remembers seeing a black or blue conversion type van, late 90 or early 2000 model, with running boards, tinted windows, shades closed and elongated brake lights in the back ‘cruising” the neighborhood shortly before the robbery occurred. We do not know if there is a connection between the vehicle and the robbery at this time.
The offender is described as a male black, 25-35 years of age, 6’01”, 190 lbs, wearing a hooded jacket with fur, possibly grey in color.
If you have any information regarding this incident, contact Area 3 Detectives at 312-744-8261. If you see suspicious persons or vehicles, please call 911.
Sgt. Schumann
- Community Alert - Armed Robbery
The 18th District Police Department has sent out an alert regarding an armed robbery this past Sunday, December 13, 2009 at approximately 11:15PM. There are two reports of similar incidents.
A resident was approached on the 800 block of West Dickens by a man with a blue steel semi-automatic handgun who demanded the victim turn over his money. After giving the offender his wallet, the offender ran west bound on Dickens. The victim remembers seeing a black or blue conversion type van (late 90's or early 00's, with running boards, tinted windows, shades closed and elongated brake lights in the back) cruising the neighborhood.
The offender was described as a male black, 25-35 years of age, 6'01", 190 lbs., wearing a hooded jacket with fur, possibly grey in color.
The police do not know if there is a connection between the vehicle and the robbery at this time. However, a similar incident took place less than hour prior to this one on the 2000 block of North Lincoln Avenue. A third robbery is being investigated outside of the 43rd Ward and outside of the 18th District but in the adjacent 19th District, I do not yet have any solid information but understand that there were similar circumstances.
As always, be aware of your surroundings. If you see any suspicious vehicles or persons, please call 9-1-1.
Sidewalk snow removal encouragement campaign CDOT and the Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council (MPAC) are continuing two efforts to encourage sidewalk snow removal by businesses and residents.
CDOT has created informational door hangers to increase awareness and encouragement, and launched a program to recognize businesses for their snow-removal efforts.
The door hanger encourages businesses and residents to be a good neighbor when it comes to sidewalk snow removal. It also reminds them that Chicago municipal code requires both businesses and residents to clear sidewalks of ice and snow.
The door hangers will be distributed to aldermanic offices, and community and business groups (e.g. chambers of commerce). The door hangers are intended as a friendly reminder, asking residents to shovel their sidewalks and offer assistance to anyone physically unable to clear their own sidewalks.
The Sidewalk Snow Clearance campaign recognizes businesses that do an outstanding job of clearing snow and ice from nearby sidewalks. Residents can nominate businesses for their snow-removal efforts by clicking on the link below. Nominated businesses will receive a thank-you letter and a certificate.
This winter's campaign builds on the success of a similar campaign last winter.
Citizens can report addresses where sidewalks are unshoveled to 311.
The Secretary of State's Office now allows Illinois instruction permit, driver's license and identification card holders to enter their emergency contact information into a voluntary, secure database.
Starting in August 2009, in the event of a motor vehicle crash or other emergency situation where a person is unable to communicate directly, law enforcement may access this database to help them reach the person's designated emergency contacts.
For more information and to add emergency contacts to your permit, go to http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/drivers/ecd/home.html
- November 09, 2009 - Safety Alert
- November 13, 2009 - Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup (IDNR)
Dear Great Lakes Stakeholder,
In early December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will perform scheduled maintenance on the electric fish barrier (Barrier IIA) in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC). The combination of Barriers I and IIA are currently the only deterrent preventing Asian Carp from continuing their destructive advance up the waters of the CSSC into Lake Michigan and periodic maintenance is necessary to maintain reliable operations and to avoid a catastrophic failure. The maintenance requires that Barrier IIA be turned off, while Barrier I will remain active. While effective against larger adult fish, testing has shown the power capabilities of Barrier I to be less effective on juveniles, therefore, there is a consensus among state and federal agencies that additional measures must be taken to prevent the passage of fish during this maintenance period.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), in coordination with a multi-agency Asian Carp Rapid Response Workgroup, will use a fish toxicant (rotenone) to eradicate any carp in the canal before the barrier is taken down for maintenance. Rotenone will also kill other fish in the canal but does not present a risk to people or other wildlife when used properly. While the scheduled maintenance will require the barrier to be shut down for two days, the entire rapid response operation will necessitate the temporary closure of the canal to all commercial and recreational boat traffic for 4 to 5 days. Rotenone quickly dissipates on its own, but to accelerate that process a neutralizing agent will be used following the application. Fish will be removed from the canal and disposed of properly in a landfill. The Workgroup and its partners are committed to working rapidly and responsibly so the canal may be reopened as soon as possible.
Asian carp are an invasive aquatic species that have significantly impacted the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and are now rapidly moving toward Lake Michigan.
In efforts to keep these destructive fish out of the Great Lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed an electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that is intended to stop the fish from reaching Lake Michigan – an event that could create an ecological disaster for the Great Lakes.
If Asian carp become established in the Great Lakes, they could seriously disrupt fish populations in the lakes and their major tributaries and severely damage the Great Lakes sport fishing industry, valued at $7 billion. In addition, the presence of Asian carp could result in injuries to boaters and other waterway users because of the natural behavior of silver carp to jump from the water when they are disturbed by watercraft.
For a glimpse of the safety and ecological problems these fish pose, watch video taken on the Illinois River by logging on to www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS7zkTnQVaM.
Your cooperation and support is appreciated as we work together to protect the Great Lakes for future generations.
For more information on the rapid response plan or the joint effort to keep these invasive species out of the Great Lakes, please contact Bill Bolen-USEPA Senior Advisor -Great Lakes National Program Office at 312-353-6316 or bolen.bill@epa.gov.
Sincerely,
The Asian Carp Rapid Response Work Group
