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The proposed Landscape Policy is available for review at http://www.illinoistollway.com. Public comments may be provided via email, U.S. mail through Feb. 1, 2013 or in person at the next Strategic Planning Committee meeting (2013 Board and Committee meeting schedule to be announced soon). All comments will be posted on the Tollway’s website. The Illinois Tollway’s proposed Landscape Policy creates guidelines for municipalities and commercial entities along the Tollway system to request trimming or removal of trees on the Tollway’s property to clear obstructions blocking visibility or clearing of undesirable vegetation. To submit your comments by mail: Illinois Tollway 2700 Ogden Avenue Downers Grove, IL 60515 RE: Landscape Policy: Tree Removal and Trimming

IMET is hosting their 17th annual participant’s meeting to be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Harry Caray’s restaurant in the Westin Hotel in Lombard. Keynote speakers will be James E. Glassman, Managing Director and Head Economist at Chase Bank, and Christopher Carter, Mentalist. Please visit

SSMMA’s new Chicago Southland Fiber Network, Partnership for a Connected Illinois (PCI) and several PCI and State of Illinois DCEO and State Library grantees sat down together January 4 for an “eTeam” meeting to connect and collaborate on ways to eliminate the “digital divide” that plagues economic, educational, healthcare and municipal development in the south suburban Chicago area. Participants included South Suburban College, Family Christian Health Center, Aunt Martha’s Youth Services, Community Assistance Programs, Southland Healthcare Forum, Robbins and South Holland’s public libraries and more.  These eCommunity Leadership Teams, or eTeams, meet for the purpose of developing a technology growth plan that encompasses all relevant sectors of the community. PCI is a statewide nonprofit that works to ensure broadband access throughout the State of Illinois, maximize broadband’s impact and use, and collect and publish broadband-related data, information, and research. They’ve helped to connect schools, hospitals and entire communities to high-speed internet, worked with large fiber deployment projects, led the efforts for major grant programs and hosted regional broadband events. Cook County and SSMMA received a $6 million grant from the State of Illinois’ “Illinois Jobs Now” program in February 2012, for the pilot project of constructing more than 60 miles of fiber optic backbone infrastructure along I-57 in the southern Cook and eastern Will County corridor. The project also involves installing 32 initial anchor sites including: south suburban municipalities, public safety sites, community colleges, Cook County facilities, and manufacturing or economic development access sites along or near the I-57 corridor. The fiber optic infrastructure will be used to provide connectivity to high capacity Internet services, ICN access for education and public institutions, and dark fiber resources for both public and private entities to use for point-to-point or multi-point network and data applications. What this ultimately means is that  transmission speeds would jump exponentially from the current top average U.S. connection speed  of  around 6.7 Megabits per second (Mbp)  to 1GigaBit-per-second or a transmission rate of  one billion bits of information per second. Such speeds could allow healthcare facilities to quickly transmit x-rays to physicians in emergency situations, education institutions and libraries to steam videos, and manufacturers to ramp up computerized production.

SPC Awards Financial Fuel Hedging Contract to Palatine Oil The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) is pleased to announce that, as an additional service to the SPC Fuel Contract, staff bid out a separate financial fuel hedging program to offer members the opportunity to lock in fuel prices for the period of March 2013 through February 2014.  The SPC Governing Board awarded the contract to Palatine Oil Company, who also holds the fuel contract.  Interested participants need to begin planning now to secure pricing during January 2013, when publicly traded New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) fuel contracts are historically cheaper than in the summer, when usage and demand is the highest.  Advantages of the program include budget certainty and the potential to protect against inflated fuel prices during the spring and summer months.  For information or questions about the SPC Financial Fuel Hedging Contract, please contact Palatine Oil Company General Manager Joe Fell, 847-358-3600 (office), 847-514-9483 (cell) or jfell@palatineoil.com. SPC Awards Telecommunications Contract Extension to Call One On Thursday, the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) governing board awarded the last of four (4) possible telecommunications contract extensions to Call One. The extension is effective January 1 through December 31, 2013. The contract contains significant price increases for POTS lines and usage that was passed on to Call One by AT&T. Since being notified of the pricing changes on October 1, NWMC and DuPage Mayors and Managers (DMMC) staff engaged in extensive negotiations with Call One to mitigate the impact of the cost increases on program participants, resulting in the following options: Call One will conduct regional and/or individual meetings with members to review cost increases and alternative solutions to mitigate the impact of the changes. Priority will be  given to those members with the most POTS lines and therefore facing the greatest  impact.  Call One will prepare free line audits and identify cost comparisons to change  from POTS to other products. The SPC Administrative Fee and Call One Commission Fees/Margins are frozen at current levels and the savings are passed on to the program participants. Call One will waive installation fees for transitioning POTS lines to SIP lines on one year agreements. A memo was sent to program participants explaining the pricing changes in greater detail, including a sample member analysis comparing current rates to the new rates as well as pricing for alternative options.  For additional information or questions, please contact Call One SPC Telecommunications Program Director Bob Kintz, 312-506-5003 (office), 630-465-1485 (cell) or rkintz@callone.com. SPC Awards Liquid Calcium Chloride Contract The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Governing Board is pleased to announce that Sicalco, Ltd. of Hinsdale has been awarded the SPC 2012-13 Liquid Calcium Chloride contract. The contract is valid from December 5, 2012 through December 4, 2013. Bids were received from Sicalco Ltd., and Gasaway Distributors Inc. of Oak Brook, with Sicalco Ltd. being the low responsive, responsible bidder at $0.4350 per gallon plus $0.1200 per gallon for delivery in full truckloads of 4,400 gallons, for a total delivered price of $0.5550 per gallon of pre-mixed liquid calcium chloride. This is less than last year’s contract price of $0.56 per gallon delivered. For additional information or questions, please contact Sicalco representatives Jack Daws or Frank Sibr, 800-435-1919 or Sicalco@aeroinc.net. SPC Approves Ford Focus S Contract Extension The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Governing Board has approved a one-year contract extension on the 2013 Ford Focus S with Currie Motors of Frankfort, Illinois. The extension is effective from January 21, 2013 through January 20, 2014. The SPC reserves the right to extend this contract for one additional one-year term upon mutual agreement of both the vendor and the SPC on a negotiated basis. For questions or additional information, please contact Currie Motors Municipal Sales Manager Tom Sullivan, 815-464-9200 or thomasfsullivan@sbcglobal.net. Call One to Host Webinar to Review SPC Contract Rate Changes As a follow up to the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative’s (SPC) 2013 telecommunications contract extension with Call One, the vendor conducted a series of live informational meetings regarding the rate changes that went into effect with the new contract. Topics included the following: Recent industry changes Reasons for the rate increases Technology options available to mitigate the cost increases Q&A with industry experts If your agency was unable to attend the live meetings but still wants to learn more about how the rate changes will impact your budget and/or ways to mitigate costs, Call One Association Director Bob Kintz will conduct a webinar on Tuesday, January 15, at 1:30 p.m. Webinar invitations will be sent directly from Call One. Please RSVP to Call One Association Relationship Developer Phillip Barnett, 312-235-3870 (direct), 847-814-7445 (cell) or pbarnett@callone.com.  In the meantime, please contact Bob Kintz, 312-506-5003 (direct), 630-465-1485 (cell) or rkintz@callone.com or Rita Kueny at the Association for additional information. The rate changes could possibly result in lower rates for some users.  Even if you are not currently a Call One user, please feel free to contact Bob Kintz for information regarding rates. Please consider the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative when making purchases and note that every municipality and government agency in the State of Illinois is authorized to participate in SPC Programs.  Feel free to contact your designated SSMMA SPC Staff Representative Rita Kueny at (708) 206-1155 or rita.kueny@ssmma.org with any questions or comments you may have regarding SPC programs.

Senate Democrats spent a great deal of time during the 97th General Assembly working to implement new laws that will protect the citizens of Illinois. Here are some of the most interesting and notable measures taking effect on January 1, 2013. Live adult entertainment surcharge Businesses deemed to be “live adult entertainment facilities” that either serve or permit the consumption of alcohol on their premises are subject to an annual surcharge amounting to $3 per person that is admitted to the facility.  The revenue collected through these means will be used to create grants for sexual assault organizations whose funding had previously been dramatically cut by the state legislature. Studies have proven a correlation between adult entertainment facilities and increased rates of violence and property crimes in neighborhoods that contain such a facility. “Victims of sexual assault must be able to access emergency services to fully recover from their traumatic experiences,” bill sponsor Senator Toi Hutchinson (D – Chicago Heights) said. “I am hopeful the extra funding for sexual assault centers will ensure no victim is turned away for care when they need it the most.” New revenue for DNR The former governor of Illinois gutted the budget of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, impacting state parks, museums and many other historical attractions.  In order to supplement the funding lost, a new law was designed which charges small fees for various permits, registrations and assessments.  Additionally, usage fees will be assessed on non-Illinois residents who use Illinois state parks. These fees should help IDNR keep facilities open and continue operations, including maintenance, roadway and facility construction. Diversion program for first time, non-violent offenders  Starting Jan. 1, Illinois law will allow first-time, non-violent offenders to participate in a two-year diversion program similar to probation. Once they successfully complete the program, their records will immediately be expunged, increasing their odds of getting a job and staying out of prison. Strengthened laws to protect children “Caylee’s Law” was drafted in response to the recent death of Caylee Anthony. Caylee was last seen on June 15, 2008, but her mother, Casey, waited a month before alerting the authorities to Caylee’s disappearance. “Caylee’s Law” makes it a felony for a parent or guardian to fail to report the disappearance of a child within 24 hours of the child going missing and also makes it a crime to fail to report the death of a child. Click here to read the full blog post. Read the full list here.

Federal approval of the proposed corridor for the Illiana Expressway is just around the corner, and meetings with landowners as well as a detailed engineering study will start just after the new year, according to INDOT. Please click here to read the full story by Keith Benman in the Times of Northwest Indiana.

“This winter storm is expected to be especially damaging to our system as we face a potential combination of wind, snow and ice,” said Terence Donnelly, executive vice president and chief operating officer, ComEd. “We have increased staffing levels and proactively requested assistance from other utilities to ensure we are ready to quickly and safely begin power restoration efforts.” ComEd urges customers to contact the utility immediately if they are experiencing a power outage. To report an outage, customers can call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report it through the website at ComEd.com or at Facebook.com/ComEd. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237). Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report their outage and receive restoration information. Customers also can follow us on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComEd to stay up to date on the latest ComEd storm restoration information. ComEd has also introduced a mobile app for iPhone and Android® smart phones that gives customers the ability to report power outages and manage their accounts. Public safety is paramount during storms, and ComEd encourages the public to remember to take the following precautions: If you encounter a downed power line, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661) or access our website at ComEd.com and report the location. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237). Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous. Check on elderly and other sensitive family members and neighbors to ensure their safety and make alternate arrangements, if necessary. ComEd also offers the following tips to help customers safely prepare their homes for winter weather, manage their energy usage and reduce electricity costs. Inspect the caulking and weather-stripping around all windows, doors and openings for utility services, replacing as necessary. Making these improvements could result in savings of up to 20 percent on annual heating bills. Have home heating systems cleaned and inspected by a professional each year to ensure safety and optimum efficiency. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure proper functioning. Keep three feet of space between space heaters and any surfaces that could burn, including walls and bedding. Choose space heaters with automatic shut-off in case they tip over. Reverse the rotation of ceiling fan blades, which should spin clockwise at low speed during the winter months, so the warm air that has risen can be re-distributed around the room. Visit ComEd.com and select “Use My Energy Tools” beneath the “My Usage” tab. Customers can evaluate past energy usage and learn about more ways to keep their homes energy efficient.

Refreshments will be served following the swearing in. As always, thank you for supporting our Department! The village hall is located at 16226 Wausau Avenue South Holland, IL 60473 The South Suburban Association of Chiefs of Police encourages all to attend and share these special events for Past President Millsaps and Awards Chairman Baker. They are both superb police executives.

Hosted by the Lombard Police Department, this course is designed to train you how to train others to proactively handle violent intruder and active shooter situations. Help save lives by providing training that will bridge the gap between when the violent event begins and law enforcement arrives. The Response Options AL.I.C.E. Instructor Course is designed to prepare Law Enforcement Officers, School Administrators, Hospital Security Professionals, School Safety Specialists and WorkpIace Violence Professionals to train potential victims in Active Shooter survival options. [box type=”info” border=”full”]Download the ALICE training flyer here.[/box] For more information, visit the website, http://www.responseoptions.com or call 877-652-9461. This course has been accepted around the country as an innovation in institutional safety. Also, you can visit the website for a list of police, school, hospital and church organizations who have attended this course. Location: Lombard Police Department 255 E. Wilson Ave. Lombard, IL 60148 Date & Time: February 12th-13th, 2013, 8:00 – 5:00 p.m. each day Registration: $395 per person, maximum of 40 seats available. Register at www.responseoptions.com Do not pre-register with the Lombard Police Department. Register on line at www.responseoptions.com or call 877-652-9461. On February 11, 2013, a free 2-hour A.L.l. C. E. orientation session will be conducted for police, school, hospital and business administrators.

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“Cities and villages will go bankrupt if this does not change,” said Palos Hills Mayor Gerald Bennett, among the mayors who stopped by the SouthtownStar editorial offices this week to sound the alarm. To read the rest of Phil Kadner’s story in the Southtown Star, please click here.

Suburbs typically fight it out with each other in the battle for federal and state dollars, but now some towns have banded together to get money to rehab abandoned and foreclosed housing, according to a report issued Thursday by a coalition of area planning agencies. To read Art Golab’s full story in the Chicago Sun Times, please click here.