Village Board member Rick Peck is drafting a request for proposal and obtaining some unofficial quotes from several vendors.

According to Village President Bob Rodney, Peck’s preliminary information showed a small savings for each household, but the larger, long-term savings would come in the elimination of 50 percent of current truck traffic, resulting in less wear and tear on the roads.

Kaneville contemplates snow plow contract
Kaneville—The village of Kaneville is conducting a preliminary exploration of other contractors for next year’s snow plowing. Since the incorporation of Kaneville in 2006, the village has had an intergovernmental agreement with Kaneville Township for its Road Commissioner to plow village streets.

However, after some of the more recent snow storms, the village has received several complaints from residents about the service, especially those living on cul-de-sacs.

According to Kaneville Village Board member Paul Ross, there is a 90-day cancellation clause in the agreement, so any changes would not take place until next winter. Once the scope of work has been clearly defined, the village could put the job out to bid.

“We’re just getting some preliminary numbers and defining the scope of work,” Ross said.

Book Nook Cafe seeks off-site signage
SUGAR GROVE—The Book Nook Cafe owner Janet Lagerloeff hopes to place a sign directing motorists on Route 30 to her cafe within the Sugar Grove Public Library, but village officials are concerned with the precedent it would set.

The sign would be considered off-sight commercial signage, something the village’s current signage ordinance does not allow.

Lagerloeff, who also owns The Catering Gourmets in town, opened a sit-down concession within the library when the new building opened, where patrons may buy coffee and tea, light breakfast and lunch. Lagerloeff said she wants to communicate to more people that The Book Nook Cafe is available and where it is located.

“Most towns do not allow off-site commercial signage,” Village Administrator Brent Eichelberger said on Wednesday. “That’s why frontage on a busier road is more expensive.”

The issue will come back before the Committee of the Whole at a later date.

Maple Park’s fire and police chiefs will develop the plan, Village President Kathy Curtis said Monday. Having the plan will allow the village to be eligible for federal incident management grants for streamlining management of emergency personnel, communications, facilities and resources.

NIMS is a federal initiative to improve the readiness of government agencies on the state, local and national level to address potential terrorist threats.

Board will discuss Kaneland request
MAPLE PARK—The Maple Park Village Board will discuss whether to renew an intergovernmental agreement with Kaneland School District at the village’s next Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 15.

District Superintendent Charles McCormick has asked all Kaneland villages to renew their four-year agreement with the district to provide developer impact fees to the schools.

Village officials cited the changing housing market and the differences in development among the Kaneland communities as reasons for wanting to study the issue further before making a decision.

The winner of a $250 Ream’s Meat Market gift certificate was Andy Lyons of Esmond, Ill. Winning a $100 Ream’s Elburn Market Gift Certificate was Elaine Doty of Sugar Grove. The recipients of the two $25 gas cards donated by Casey’s of Maple Park were Kelly Snyder of Elburn and Heidi Gilkey of Maple Park.

Lincoln Highway 4-H Club will donate the raffle proceeds to local, charitable organizations.

Technology upgrades at Village Hall
MAPLE PARK—The village of Maple Park will purchase new software allowing it to develop a server for storing information.

The Village Board approved the expenditure of $738 for the software at its Jan. 5 meeting.

The new software will complement other technology additions at Village Hall, including 12 computer monitors and four printers recently donated by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Parking permits available for residents near Metra
ELBURN—The village of Elburn has announced that residents of the neighborhood on the southeast side of Elburn near the Metra station should pick up their 2010 Resident Parking Protection District permits at Village Hall, 301 E. North St.

The village created the parking protection district three years ago to deter commuters from parking in the neighborhood near Metra to avoid the commuter lot fee.

The following streets comprise the parking protection district: Nebraska Street (First Street to Third Street); Kansas Street (First Street to the east end); South Street (First Street to Third Street); Third Street (Nebraska Street to South Street); Second Street (Nebraska Street to South Street); First Street (Union Pacific Right-Of-Way to Oak Drive); and Oak Drive (from First Street to the east end).

Police issue tickets to commuters who park on those streets but will not ticket vehicles bearing the parking protection stickers. Residents of the neighborhood also may obtain parking stickers for visitors, so that their vehicles are not ticketed.

Volunteers sought for Mental Health Board
VIRGIL TOWNSHIP—Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services Inc., the local mental health authority for seven townships in southern Kane County, is looking for a Virgil Township resident volunteer to serve on the township community mental health board.

This person must have an interest in the issues of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. Meetings are three times a year to review how the local mental health levy serves Virgil Township residents and to provide input on needed community services. No fundraising and no compensation is involved.

Contact Jerry Murphy or Marti Cross at (630) 892-5456 for more information.

Kaneville Library cancels meeting, announces appointments
KANEVILLE—The Kaneville Public Library Board of Trustees canceled its scheduled meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 12. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Kaneville Village Meeting Room.

The board also announced the appointments of Library Director, Ray Christiansen, as the district’s Freedom of Information Act Officer, and Board Vice-President Mary Niceley, as the district’s Open Meetings Act Compliance Officer. Both appointment became effective on Dec. 7, 2009.

Kaneville Classics hold Christmas party
KANEVILLE—The Kaneville Classics 4-H met on Dec. 28 and held its Christmas party, played games and exchanged gifts. The group’s next meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 25, at the Kaneville Comminity Center at 5:30 p.m.

Seasonal flu shots, pneumonia shots and tetanus (T-dap) shots will be offered. Seasonal flu shots are $20, pneumonia shots are $35 and T-dap shots are $45. VNA will bill Medicare Part B for the seasonal flu and pneumonia shots only for patients who present a valid card. All others may pay by cash or check. For more information, call VNA at (630) 978-2532.

The cost is $5, and the gather will take place in the village room at the community center in Kaneville. Call Food For Thought at (630) 557-2220 for a reservation.

The administration declined to state a reason for the action, pending the outcome of an investigation, but said that it stemmed from a complaint.

“It was brought to our attention by a parent, student—a family complaint,” Superintendent Charlie McCormick said.

The district office had been talking with the high school administration during the middle and end of last week about the complaint.

The School Board gives the administration the authority to handle these type of decisions.

“It was an administrative call,” School Board member Cheryl Krauspe said. “Any (formal) action will be taken during open session (board meeting).”

Krauspe said she did not know all the details and could not comment.

The athletic department will look to the coaching staff to cover the rest of the season.

“We’re making changes in the coaching assignments to ensure we have proper coaching,” McCormick said.

Hansen has coached girls’ softball for 12 seasons with a 224-128 record. He also coaches boys’ basketball, and teaches drivers’ education and physical education classes. McCormick said that an appropriate substitute teacher will take over those classes.

The program will be at the David Werdin Community Center on Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m., followed by placement of gravesite flowers and a 21-gun salute at the Kaneville Cemetery. Refreshments will be served at the close of the festivities. A community potluck will be held at the Kaneville Community Center Pavilion starting around noon. Meat and drinks will be provided, but please bring a dish to pass.

This class teaches everything from CPR to choking relief to the use of an A.E.D. The skills learned can be used on infants to adults and are great for babysitters.

Upon completion of class you will receive a card that certifies you for two years. The cost is $1, for your CPR card. The class is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to noon. Call (630)557-2353 or e-mail kumcoffice@yahoo.com.

A work day has been scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Conley Farm, 47w085 Main Street Road, just west of Kaneville. The group will also begin getting the Conley Outreach Children’s Prayer Garden, creek beds and grounds ready for spring.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening tools, including shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows if possible. Clean mulch is also needed.

Future summer projects include roughing in a washroom in the pavilion and painting the exterior of the horse barn. Call Conley Outreach at (630) 365-2880 or visit www.conleyoutreach.com.

A work day has been scheduled for Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Conley Farm, 47w085 Main Street Road, just west of Kaneville. The group will also begin getting the Conley Outreach Children’s Prayer Garden, creek beds and grounds ready for spring. This will include raking, mulching, planting and cleaning debris out of the creek.

Many hands will be needed. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening tools, including shovels, rakes and wheelbarrows if possible. Clean mulch is also needed.

Future summer projects include roughing in a washroom in the pavilion and painting the exterior of the horse barn. Please call Conley Outreach at (630) 365-2880 or go to www.conleyoutreach.com to volunteer.

The Kaneville Memorial Day Committee is holding its organizational meeting on Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the David Werdin Community Center. All interested community members are invited to attend.

Call Food For Thought for reservations by Saturday, April 4, at (630) 557-2220.

The KUMC kids are asking the entire Kaneville community to help them with this important local mission project. Collection boxes have been placed at the Kaneville Library and at the Kaneville Community Child Center at the Community Center. In addition, the kids will be picking up donations door to door in Kaneville on Wednesday, March 18, between 6-7pm. If you have donations for pick up, please contact the church at (630) 557-2353 by Monday, March 16.

The Food Pantry is now being used by over 45 families each week. They are especially in need of cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, canned entrees, juice, canned meats, fruit, and vegetables, cookies, paper goods and coffee.

The meal is served at noon in the Kaneville Village Room’s Community Building. All residents are welcome.

Call Food for Thought at (630) 557-2202 by Saturday, Feb. 14, for reservations. There is room for about six new people.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 6:30 p.m., at the Kaneville Village Office.

For additional information, contact Ray Christiansen, library director, at (630) 557-2441.

To kick off observance of its 75th anniversary, the library scheduled its first annual Work Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, and is seeking volunteers.

Tasks will be anything from dusting shelves and moving books, to shifting bookcases and desks and repairing furniture.