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CITY NEWS
No Solicitors Please!   
Each year at this time, we see an increase in door-to-door solicitations in our neighborhoods. Residents who do not want solicitors to ring their doorbells should post a sign on their front door indicating "No Solicitors Invited." Darien requires that solicitations from for profit organizations need to apply for a permit, which includes an application for each solicitor they employ. Once the permit application is completed and submitted including authorization from the company, a background check is conducted. Upon approval and receipt of the appropriate fee, a thirty-day permit will be issued. The hours that solicitors may knock on your door are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.  The license or registration of any peddler or solicitor shall be displayed on the outer garment of the peddler or solicitor at all times while the person is engaged in soliciting or peddling within the city. If they do not have a license displayed we ask that you call 9-1-1  so a police officer can be dispatched to stop them from soliciting until they obtain the license. 
 
The City does not have the ability to regulate or conduct background checks on solicitors who conduct missionary and political solicitation, which was decided by the Supreme Court a few years ago (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York vs. Village of Stratton, Ohio). The constitution protects the right of solicitors such as missionaries and politicians to knock on doors without first getting permission from local authorities. In the doorstep-solicitation case, the court reasoned that the First Amendment right to free speech includes the entitlement to take a message directly to someone's door and that the right cannot be limited by a requirement to register by name ahead of time.
 
Residents who would like to deter solicitors from their home, may pick up a "No Solicitors Invited" decal for their front door at City Hall (1702 Plainfield Road) or the Darien Police Dept. (1710Plainfield Road).
Auxiliary Police Officer Opening   
The Darien Police Department is accepting applications for the position of Auxiliary Police Officer.
The Auxiliary Officer position is an unpaid, unarmed, volunteer position. There are certain details that are paid. There is no benefit package and Auxiliary Officers are considered "at will" employees.

To be an Auxiliary Police Officer, you must be over 21 years old, be in good physical condition, must have good character, and cannot have any felony convictions.

The duties of an Auxiliary Officer include, but are not limited to, assisting with traffic control, handling vehicle lockouts, animal complaints, parking enforcement, fingerprinting, and other tasks as assigned. Visit the City of Darien Website at www.darien.il.us for a complete job description.

Some weekends, nights, and special events are required (including the Fourth of July Parade and Darienfest).
A background check, driver's license history, and other exams as required by the department.

Contact Sergeant Nick Skweres at 630-353-8337 or nskweres@darienil.gov if you have any questions.

Applications will be accepted until August 1, 2016. However, hiring will be limited as manpower requirements are needed, with a minimum of 2 Auxiliary Officers being hired in 2016.

Applications can be picked up at the Darien Police Department or downloaded from the City of Darien website at www.darien.il.us.

The Darien Police Department is an equal opportunity employer.
Television Recycling thru Advanced Disposal  
With free electronic recycling becoming harder to find, the City of Darien refuse hauler, Advanced Disposal, will be accepting televisions for recycling.  You must place 5 refuse stickers on each, and place the TV at the curb on your normal refuse collection day.  If you would like the TV collected outside of your normal refuse day, you can schedule a special pickup for an additional $25.00 trip charge. All televisions will be properly disposed of by Advanced Disposal
New Phone Scam Targeting College Students  
The FBI has issued an alert about a new type of phone scam. This new scam primarily targets college students.

A scammer calls a student and claims to be a government official or federal agent, feigning legitimacy by "spoofing" or mimicking a local FBI phone number on the receiving caller I.D. The student is told that they owe money for overdue student loans, unpaid taxes or outstanding parking tickets. The scammer threatens the student with arrest or failure to graduate, unless they immediately settle the fees via MoneyGram.

The public should be aware that the FBI does not call private citizens requesting money and to never give out personal information to callers you do not know.
Healthy Lawn Care Tips   
Maintain healthy lawns can be a challenge, especially in the summer months. Please follow the link to the Chicago Botanic Garden for important do it yourself lawn care tips
Don't Become an Easy Target - Lock Your Doors!
Residents are reminded to lock their cars and take or hide valuables in the trunk so they don't create an easy target for burglary and theft. 

Police call most car break-ins a crime of opportunity. Criminals walk through the neighborhood and parking lots looking for items to steal with the goal of finding vehicles that are unlocked.  The large percentage of car break-ins in the Chicago metro area are done to vehicles that are unlocked.

 Don't let the criminals win, lock your car doors!
 City Administrator
(630) 353-8114
(630) 852-5000
(630) 971-3999
(630) 852-5000
Mayor
City Clerk
Treasurer
Ward 1
Ward 2
Ward 3
Ward 4
Thomas Chlystek
Ward 5
Joseph Marchese
Ward 6
Ward 7

City Council Meetings 

Monday, July 18
 7:30 p.m.

Monday, August 1
7:30 p.m.

Official Social Media Links

FACEBOOK: There are several Facebook pages that come up when doing a search for our City page.  Please use this link to "Like" us for city contact information and current city news on the City of Darien Official Facebook Page

TWITTER: The City of Darien Now "Tweets"!  Please follow us on twitter  at  Cityofdarien. 
 
NIXLE: The Nixle  text alert system provides for the City to send out urgent and emergency alerts via text messages.  This a FREE service.  To sign up for Nixle, visit our website and click on the nixle icon.

SMART PHONE APP: The City of Darien smart phone app is now available!  The app will allow easy, mobile access to city information, services and request.  There is also a direct link on this app to Commonwealth Edison website, which is a great source of information during power outages. This FREE app is called Darien Connect, and is available in the Apple Store and the Google Play Store.

Agendas for City and Committee Meetings

The following links will direct you to the City Meeting and Committee agendas and packet information on our website.  Stay informed on City issues and upcoming projects!    

All Agendas

City Meeting info / Minutes on website 
As a reminder to residents, the City's website includes City Council, and various other city committee, meeting agendas, background materials, staff memos/reports, city expenses, monthly financial and meeting minutes. This allows residents to closely follow all of the business conducted by the City.

If you wish to review the Council and committee meeting information simply use the following link:

View Darien Meetings on YouTube!

You may now view city meetings on YouTube by clickng here.

 

Our user name is DarienCableChannel.  You may still access meetings from the links on  our website.

Meet & Greet Mayor Weaver! The third Monday of every month at Darien City Hall from 6 - 7pm
 Find out the latest city updates - Share your thoughts and suggestions. Get involved - Meet  other residents!
View Darien Police Department Weekly Incident Report
You may view the Darien Police Department weekly incident report by  clicking here

View Police Chief   

Monthly Police Report 

You may view the Police Chief's monthly press release by  
 clicking here 

Submit an article for Direct Connect 

You may submit an article for Direct Connect by emailing  mwintermute@darienil.gov
Sprinkling Restrictions 
Beginning May 15th through September 15th of each year the City of Darien restricts the watering of trees, gardens, lawns, shrubs, or other outdoor plants. Residents may not water between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Watering is not permitted on consecutive days, odd number addresses may water on odd numbered days and even numbered address may water on even numbered days. These restrictions do not prohibit the watering of newly planted seed or sod less than 3 months old. New / replacement sprinkler systems shall be equipped with a WaterSence labeled irrigation controller and shall be in compliance with section 2.5(g) of the Illinois plumbing license law.
Hot Weather Electricity Conservation Tips   
During hot weather, residents can reduce their use of electricity by following these simple energy-saving steps:
  • When using an air conditioner, set the thermostat no lower than 78 degrees. Each degree lower increases cooling costs by six percent.
  • If possible, use a fan instead of an air conditioner in a well-ventilated area. Fans use 70 to 90 percent less electricity than air conditioners.
  • Turn off unused, non-essential appliances, including televisions and computers that are on "stand-by" mode. Even though they are not "on," TVs and PCs still draw power.
  • Use the energy saver option on your dishwasher. Operate dishwashers, washing machines and dryers with full loads, early in the morning or late at night.
  • Close shades or blinds to prevent the sun from adding more heat to the room.
Mosquito abatement  
The City of Darien has a comprehensive mosquito abatement program run through Clarke Mosquito Control that includes ongoing monitoring of standing bodies of water and catch basin treatments. The program focus is on larviciding activities to kill larvae before they become adults, including applications in standing bodies of water and stocking retention ponds with mosquito eating fish. However, as temperatures rise and with heavy rainfall, you may see an increase in the mosquito population.  We ask that you assist the City of Darien and your neighbors to reduce the mosquito population by:
  • Reporting standing water areas on public property, especially backyard catchbasins, to Clarke Mosquito at 800-942-2555.  The City of Darien treats storm inlets on streets, ditches, retention and detention basins, and areas that generally hold stormwater areas, but if you identify a new spot we would like to get it included on our lists.
  • Getting rid of old tires, buckets, bottles or any items in your yard that may hold water
  • Changing the water in birdbaths, watering cans, plant pots and drip trays no less frequently than once per week
  • Keep grass cut short and shrubbery well trimmed around the house so adult mosquitoes will not hide there
Even with all these steps, there still may be mosquitoes in the area, as they have the ability to fly many miles.  When you are out in your yard, we would recommend wearing long sleeves and pants to cover skin when possible or using a mosquito repellent.Running a fan in your outdoor area is also know to help, as mosquitoes cannot fly in strong wind.

For a full monthy report for the City of Darien visit here.

Visit the County's website at http://www.dupagehealth.org/EnvironmentalHealth/news/WNVjune2016 
Spread the Word About Direct Connect! 
Providing important city information to Darien residents has been a priority of the Elected Officials and city staff for many years. Our most important resource to distribute information is Darien's weekly E-newsletter, Direct Connect. This provides residents with important community information that is emailed on Fridays. Direct Connect is also sent out periodically when there is important information to provide to residents.

There are approximately 2500 subscribers to Direct Connect. The City's goal is to have 5000 subscribers by the end of 2016. We ask that you please spread the word about Direct Connect and encourage your friends, neighbors, and local groups to sign up. Signing up is simple, just provide any Elected Official or staff member with your email address and we will have you registered. If you prefer to register yourself, you may use the following link: http://www.darien.il.us/Reference-Desk/DirectConnect.aspx.

Please help the City reach our goal!  
COUNTY/STATE/FEDERAL NEWS
DuPage County Forest Preserve Photo Contest 
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County kicks off its summer "Take 5 Photo Contest" July 10, giving visitors a chance to win great outdoor prizes when they show how they "Take 5" in DuPage County forest preserves. Follow the link for more information.
 
http://www.dupageforest.com/take_5_photo_contest/ 
Lisle Electronic Recycling    
In order to assist DuPage County residents with collecting unwanted electronics and to ensure environmentally-responsible recycling of these devices, DuPage County and the Village of Lisle have partnered with eWorks Electronics Recycling Services, Inc.  to develop an electronics recycling drop-off program to collect electronics on a regular basis.

The Village of Lisle offers a site for electronic recycling the third Saturday of every month, from 8am to 12pm at 925 Burlington Avenue.  Televisions will be collected for a fee that ranges from $25 to $35..  For a complete list of accepted items visit  here. 
Latex Paint Recycling   
DuPage County Public Works is offering a latex paint recycling program this summer. This program will allow for residents to drop off their usable, unwanted latex paint, free of charge.

The hours of this program are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, thru July 29 and specific Saturdays: June 18th and 25th, and July 9th, 16th, and 23rd. If you're interested in receiving free paint, the Public Works Department is offering free paint in 5-gallon containers during the above dates and times. The drop-off / pick-up location is 7900 S. Route 53 in Woodridge.

Additional information can be found here
DuPage County Stormwater Management - Residential Flood-Proofing Guidebook    
DuPage County Stormwater Management recently released a Flood-Proofing Guidebook intended to help homeowners resolve common localized flooding issues from both underground and overland sources. Developed in partnership with Bluestem Communications, the guidebook helps homeowners identify the source of their flooding, as well as various ways to combat this flooding.

Depending on the type of flooding incurred, solutions range from installing overhead sewer systems to nature-based solutions. The guidebook also includes resources for during and after a flood. Please visit here for a copy of the guidebook.
I-55 Expansion "Managed Lane" Project   
The "Managed Lane" project would cover the Stevenson between the Veterans Tollway (I-355) and the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94), a 25-mile stretch that handles 170,000 vehicles daily and is prone to long delays, especially during peak travel times. Under a 2011 state law, IDOT can pursue projects using public-private partnerships, as long as the General Assembly approves a resolution supporting the project.

The Illinois Tollway Authority manages a vast network of toll roads in greater Chicago, but the concept of "managed lanes" -- in which motorists have a choice of free or paid lanes -- is new to Illinois. Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn described it as "an expressway within an expressway."

For more information please visit the IDOT Managed Lane Website.
DuPage County encourages residents to sign up for Smart911
As the new year draws near, DuPage County officials are asking residents to "resolve to be safe" and sign up for Smart911. Smart911 is a free, confidential service that allows users to create a profile that is activated in participating dispatch centers when a person dials 911. The electronic safety profile provides essential household information about family members, your home, pets and vehicles. This information will display automatically on the 911 call taker's screen when users make an emergency call. It's private and secure, and users control what information is in their profile.
 
Smart 911 is a valuable tool when searching for missing children, assisting unresponsive callers who are unable to speak due to a medical condition, or in a house fire when first responders need to locate and account for family members, pets and essential documents.

Learn more on the DuPage ETSB webpage at www.dupageco.org/smart911 and register at www.smart911.com.
Electronic Recycling Information 
The State of Illinois has banned computers, monitors, printers, televisions, and other electronics from landfills. If any of these items are left curbside, they will not be picked up.  There are many options to responsibly recycle your electronics throughout DuPage County. Residents are encouraged to visit the DuPage County  website or SCARCE for information on how to recycle electronics.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Darien Community Blood Drive - Sponsored by Our Lady of Peace
The Darien Community Blood Drive will take place on Saturday, July 16, from 8:30am to 2:30pm  at Our Lady of Peace, 709 Plainfield. Walk-ins Welcome! Prepare for your donation: Eat Well - Stay Hydrated - Bring I.D. For more information please call 877-543-3768
Thank you to Librarian Debbie Wordinger for 34 years of service 
Debbie Wordinger, Head of the Adult Services Department at the Indian Prairie Public Library, retired Wednesday after 34 years of serving our community. Residents are invited to attend a retirement reception in her honor this Sunday, July 17, 1-3 p.m. at the library.
Old Lace School House Closed July 17
Please note that Old Lace Schoolhouse & Museum will not be available to the public for Open House on Sunday, July 17th. The building is undergoing painting (beginning on Tuesday, July 12th) both inside and out. Barring complications, the plan is to reopen for Open House on August 7, 2016. All ages welcome.

Open House occurs the first and third Sundays of most every month, 1:00 - 3:00p.m. Exceptions are noted as soon as possible. Thank you from your Board of Directors at the Darien Historical Society and, remember, Individual, Family and Business memberships are available by contacting Cathy at 630-985-7779 or at Open House Sundays.
Darien School District #61 Meetings
Darien Public Schools, District #61 Board of Education Meeting will be on Tuesday, July 26, at 7:00 P.M at Lace School, 7414 S. Cass Avenue Darien, IL 60561

Darien Public Schools, District #61 Board of Education Committee of the Whole Closed Session Meeting to discuss Superintendent's Evaluation will be held on Tuesday, August 9, - 7:00 P.M at Lace School, (District Office) 7414 S. Cass Avenue Darien, IL 60561
Darien Park District Farmers Market
The Darien Park District is hosting a Farmers Market every Wednesday thru September 9.  The Market runs from 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m at Westwood Park, 75th Street and Fairview Ave.
 
The Farmers Market / Flea Market features a wide variety of seasonally fresh vegetables and fruits, and other fine offerings from local vendors.    
DarienFest Information
  DarienFest is a fundraiser sponsored by the Darien Chamber of Commerce and the largest community event in the City of Darien. This EPIC event is held in beautiful Darien Community Park which includes Food, Beer Tent including Darien's own Miskatonic Brewing Company, Live Entertainment, Thrilling Carnival Rides, Business Expo featuring Darien Chamber Businesses, Free Pet Parade, Darien Chamber Women in Business "Paint the Town Pink" Adirondack Chair Silent Auction and 50/50 Raffle hosted by Darien VFW Post 2838.

One-day DarienFest: Saturday, September 10 from 1:00pm-10:30pm with Food, Beer, Wine, Music & Business Expo

Windy City Amusements Carnival: All Weekend September 9 thru 11 ~ Friday 6:00pm-10:30pm, Saturday 1:00pm-10:30pm, Sunday 1:00pm-8:00pm
 
For updates visit www.darienchamber.com
Local Grown Local Good - Sunny Patch Project  
Good Worx is working to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in our community with their Sunny Patch Garden Project.  They've tripled the number of families they're assisting this summer! Volunteers are needed to help make this worthwhile community project succeed.
 
If you're able to donate any time to help maintain our garden patches around the community, please follow our VolunteerSpot link:  http://vols.pt/UHL7YX and get in and grow with us this summer. Looking to give back this holiday weekend? We'll be open Saturday and Monday if you care to stop by to see what's growing!
 
To learn more about how you can help, visit: www.sunnypatchproject.org 
Shop Local - Shop Darien
The Darien Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce their Shop Local Shop Darien Campaign. We encourage residents to support Darien Chamber businesses that display the Shop Local Shop Darien decal posted in their window. Shop Darien Shop Local Preferred Cards are now on sale for $5 at the Darien Chamber of Commerce office in City Hall or at local Darien Chamber member businesses.  Visit the Chamber at www.darienchamber.com  for all the Shop Local Shop Darien Preferred Offers and Discounts! 

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