The City has concluded its budget meetings for the fiscal year May 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016. In summary, the budget includes no City property tax increase and no water rate increase. Other highlights include:

• Provides transfers of approximately $5,700,000 to the Capital Projects Fund during the 3 year budget forecast period to maintain infrastructure within residential neighborhoods.
• Saving approximately $80.000 in interest payments through 2018 by making advance payment of the G.O. Bond, Series 2007B
• Maintains a recommended 3 month operating reserve.
• Continues all current core services provided by the city.
• Continues to provide residents a permit fee waiver on building permit fees.
• Includes the replacement of 300 Ash Trees that were removed due to Emerald Ash Borer.
• Provides building maintenance assistance to the Darien Historical Society.
• Includes discretionary requests in the Police Department to hire one additional part time Community Service Officer and to create the rank of Lieutenant from the current group of Police Sergeants.
• Follows the capital improvement guidelines approved by the council in 2012.
• Includes a road maintenance program of 4.5 miles and allows for additional road base repair as needed.
• Includes approximately $1,400,000 in various storm water drainage improvements.
• Provides a $500,000 reserve balance for emergencies or economic development incentives as directed by the council.
• Projects revenues sufficient to continue capital projects over the three year budget period.
• Continues concrete and road crack sealing maintenance program.
• Provides for the installation of LED street lights pending approval of a grant.
• Includes funds to enhance street lights along 75th Street.

You can view the City's proposed budget here and all of its budget meetings here. The formal approval of the budget will be scheduled for the April 6, 2015 City Council meeting. If you have any questions regarding the City's proposed budget please contact Bryon Vana, City Administrator at 630-514-1251 or bvana@darienil.gov

One of the most convenient ways to register to vote is to download an application and send it in to the DuPage County Election Commission. Simply visit their Website,  download the pdf file, and follow the instructions on filling out and sending the form! The Election Commission's website also allows individuals to check their voter status, check provisional ballots, browse frequently asked questions, check their eligibility to vote, find a registration location, and more.   

Early Voting will begin on March 23 and run thru April 4.  The closest location to Darien to vote early is Downers Grove Village Hall at 801 Burlington.  Hours to early vote will be Mon. - Fri. from 8:30am to 7:30pm, and Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.  For more locations to early vote visit the DuPage County Election Commission Website

Driveways                    $6.95 per square foot

Sidewalks                     $4.33 per square foot

Apron w/fiber mesh       $4.47 per square foot

Curb & gutter                $13.95 per lineal foot

Sealer                          $1.25 per square foot

Resident wishing to replace their driveways should call Suburban Concrete directly at 847-837-8805, and inform them you are a Darien resident.  Suburban Concrete will invoice you for the work.

Residents wishing to replace the sidewalk, apron or depress their driveway curb should call City Hall at 630-353-8102.  The City will invoice you for this work.

The deadline to participate in this year's program is July 3.

The City of Darien has recently received competitive quotes for the treatment of the Emerald Ash Borer located on private property. The recommended vendor is Tree and Turf Professionals. The treatment method consists of a licensed applicator injecting the tree with the product Treeage. For additional information regarding the treatment and general information please visit the following website: www.arborjet.com 

The tree would be drilled with a small hole(s) and larger trees will require multiple holes based on the diameter of the tree. The Treeage product is injected based on the tree diameter and sealed with a plug(s). The application is good for up to two years. The Ash tree must have a minimal 60% healthy canopy to be a candidate for the treatment. The Tree and Turf Professionals shall review each Ash tree prior to treatment. All payments shall be the responsibility of the homeowner. The contact person for Tree and Turf Professionals is Lyle McGinn at 630-759-7389 or email at lmcginn@treeandturf.com 

For more information and for pricing please visit  here.          

The Darien Police are continuing to receive reports from residents that were either a victim of a phone scam or an attempted scam. Since January 15th, there has been 6 police reports; No reports on monetary loss. We are providing our residents with a review of the reported incidents in the hopes that no one becomes a victim.

These are 3 new alerts: 

Suspicious Credit Card Activity - a resident received an e-mail advising there was suspicious activity on his American Express and that his card had been deactivated. There was a link provided in the e-mail to reactivate the card. This is a phishing scam. Once you click on the link, it will prompt you for your user name and password along with credit card number and security code. Fraudulent charges will follow. In this particular incident, the IP address returned to Hong Kong. Similar e-mails have been reported for various banks and credit cards. The scammer sends robo e-mails in the hopes that the recipient has the particular card or bank and then replies to the e-mail. Do not respond to any e-mails asking for personal information.

Credit Card Compromise - a resident received a call from a male having a foreign accent. The caller told the resident their Capitol One credit card had been compromised and that $4.49 had been charged to Bayview Lodge. The caller gave four numbers and then asked the resident to check the back of the credit card and provide numbers. The caller refused to provide a call back number. The resident hung up and did not provide any information. This is a phishing scam to get your credit card number and security code. Do not answer any questions over by a caller who you do not know or has called you unsolicited. Verify bank or credit card information only with your bank or credit card company after you make the call. Do not rely on the caller to give you a phone number to call. Look up the phone number on your account statements.

FBI Assisting Darien Police Department - an elderly resident in un-incorporated Darien received a call from a person identifying themselves as the FBI and were looking into the Darien residential burglaries. The caller told the resident that they wanted entry to home to set up surveillance. Do not allow anyone into your home that you have not invited. We are receiving a number of different phone scams from callers saying they are the police. This is a scam to get into a residence and then steal money or jewelry.   

Scams previously detailed: 

Tax email - A resident received an e-mail from Tax1099.com to complete an online W-9 tax form online for the IRS and says the recipient can use the e-signature feature. The e-mail listed HWOA LLC as the payer and the resident would be a Contractor. Residents or their tax accountants should be the only persons who fill out tax forms. This unsolicited "official looking" notice if filled out could be used to commit identity theft. Do not respond to unsolicited offers or requests for personal or financial information.

Make Money With Apple - resident received e-mail for opportunity to make money advertising Apple product on their personal car. Subject told resident he would be paid $500. Resident received check for $2520 with instructions to mail the remainder $1,970 to an address in California.  The check is not legitimate. If the resident cashed the check, he would be responsible for full repayment to the bank. Do not deposit or cash any check received that is for an amount greater than originally stated. Contact the bank listed on the check to verify the check is legitimate. Do not respond to unsolicited offers on phone, Internet, or through mail.

Free Walmart Gas Card - resident received a phone call from subject claiming she won a Walmart gas card and would need to provide a credit card number for shipping charges. This is a scam. Once the caller has a credit card number, fraudulent charges will appear.

800 Numbers - Resident attempts to call a valid 800-like number (e.g., Edible Arrangements 877-DO-FRUIT --- i.e., 877-363-7848) but mistypes the phone number (e.g., 877-367-7848)

Scammers know that people mistype these types of "alphabet" phone numbers so the scammer buy up the 800 numbers close to the valid numbers. When a resident accidentally calls, the scammer says "We're sorry ... the call volume is so high and we appreciate your business so we'd like to offer you a free $100 Walmart gift card". Ultimately, they ask for your credit card number for shipping and handling.  

This is especially tricky is because you, the resident, placed the call. No one called you so you are not expecting to be scammed. The Darien Police Department reminds Residents to never give out account numbers unless you are positive of the company you are speaking with.