ComEd is hosting its final West Central Reliability Project open house meeting next Wednesday, January 27 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion 1084 Post, 344 E. Maple Ave. ComEd's proposed plan for the project includes installing a new 138kV electric line that will run from Bartlett to Itasca through Roselle, along the south side of I-390 (Elgin-O'Hare Expressway).

It is important for Roselle residents to be informed about the plan that ComEd is proposing for its West Central Reliability Project. The proposal calls for steel poles that could be up to 170 feet high that may be located adjacent to residential property. ComEd will provide details on the $58 million project at the open house meeting, including pole heights, pole placements, and the impact of the project on the surrounding communities.

The Village Board recognized Lake Park High School student Kenneth Magana (left) and Lake Park High School Nurse Renee Riggio (second from right) with citizen lifesaving awards at its January 11, 2016, meeting.

Mayor Smolinski presented the awards for the quick actions that saved the life of Lake Park High School Math Teacher Bill Roloff (second from left) during a recent medical emergency. Magana performed CPR and Riggio used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to treat Roloff prior to the arrival of emergency medical crews. The actions that Magana and Riggio preformed helped to save Roloff's life. 

According to the Roselle Fire Marshal's Office, an average of 45,200 home heating fires occurred in the United States each year from 2010-2012 and resulted in an annual average of approximately 155 deaths, 625 injuries and $351 million in property loss.

Heating was the second leading cause of home fires, following cooking. Typically, home heating fires peaked in the early evening hours between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m., with the highest peak between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. This four-hour period accounted for 30 percent of all home heating fires.

Confined fires, those fires confined to chimneys, flues or fuel burners, accounted for 84 percent of home heating fires. Twenty-nine percent of the non-confined home heating fires occurred because the heat source was too close to things that can burn.

Senior Citizen Exemption Renewal Forms Due February 3: According to Schaumburg Township Assessor John Lawson, residents 65 years or older who have applied for senior citizen exemptions in the past should receive renewal forms in the mail this week and have until February 3 to file them. All seniors must apply to renew their exemptions, including the senior exemption (available for all residents age 65 and older) and the senior freeze (available based on income).

Tax Deferral Program Available to Qualifying Seniors: Senior citizens who have annual household income of less than $55,000, have equity in their homes that exceeds the sum of property taxes deferred, and have lived in their homes for at least three years are eligible to apply for a tax deferral program in Cook County. This program allows seniors to defer as much as $5,000 of their property tax bill every year.

Applications are due to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' office by March 1. Seniors with additional questions about the tax deferral program can call the Schaumburg Township Assessor's office at (847) 884-0030.