What removal service do we receive from Allied Waste and how much does it cost?
Are there regulations on train horns?
What removal service do we receive from Allied Waste and how much does it cost?
Last summer the Village surveyed residents about their preferences regarding trash removal. Based on the survey results, the Village negotiated a trash removal contract that meets the preference of our residents AND lowered our costs.
The new garbage fee is $22.96 per month per household. Seniors now receive FREE service if they are 65 years of age or older, with documentation.
This new rate includes all services residents have received in the past including, unlimited weekly pick-up which includes bulk items. In addition, there is still NO fee and NO sticker required for yard bags. Yard bags are available for purchase at local grocery and hardware stores.
Also, the vast majority of respondents indicated that they wanted to recycle more. As part of our renegotiation of the Village’s garbage contract, we were able to provide residents with a 64-gallon recycling cart AND also REDUCE the monthly fee. Research shows that having a larger bin means people will recycle more, which is better for the environment and helps to reduce the Village’s garbage removal costs in the long run.
You can no longer use the smaller recycling bins because Allied Waste utilizes a special automated system allowing their trucks to lift the new, larger bins, which is more efficient and therefore less costly to the Village. You can keep your old bin for your personal use or drop it off at the Village’s Utility Department.
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Are there regulations on train horns?
In Franklin Park the horns seem to blow at all times of the day and night. We have had many inquiries as to why the trains are allowed to blow their horns at all hours and what, if anything, can be done to stop it.
We have all been annoyed and disturbed by a loud train whistle, interrupting our dinner conversation, blaring over a favorite TV show or interrupting our sleep. But trains blow their horns as a safety warning and unless extensive and expensive steps are taken, municipalities have no ability to cease the horn blowing.
The US Constitution "Commerce Clause" gives the federal government regulatory authority over trains and this usually preempts state or local government regulations. Additionally, the Village, Cook County and the State have no jurisdiction over the railroads.
Municipalities can create a "quiet zone" from 10:00pm to 6:00am that would preclude the use of train horns. But in order to apply for such a designation, we would first be required to make significant safety modifications to each at-grade crossing.
Modifications would include such things as quad gates or changing the grade level of the crossing. Due to our current configurations, we would need to spend approximately $500,000 per crossing to be eligible to apply. To effectively reduce the noise, all crossings – Franklin Park has seven at grade crossings - should be reconfigured. This would cost the Village $3.5 million to perform these reconfigurations.
Clearly, in these recessionary times, we cannot afford these safety modifications. Additionally, the State’s budget crisis and the financial issues in Washington make grants for these zones scarce.
However, we will continue to make this a top priority and aggressively pursue state and federal grants that could help us achieve ‘Quiet Zone’ designation.
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Can I have a garage or yard sale?
Is there an ordinance for watering/sprinkling my yard in the summer?
Where can I register to vote and what are the requirements?
What type of identification do I need to register to vote?
When is the approved time for trick or treating on Halloween?
Can I have a garage or yard sale?
Yes, two sales are permitted per calendar year. They can be up to 30 hours in duration within three consecutive days between 8:00am and 7:00pm. Registration with the Clerk’s Office is required prior to each sale.
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Is there an ordinance for watering/sprinkling my yard in the summer?
Yes, from May 15th to September 15th each year from 12:01pm to 6:00pm, it is unlawful to engage in lawn sprinkling or other landscape use of water supplied from the Municipal water system.
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Where can I register to vote and what are the requirements?
You can register to vote at the Clerk’s Office in Village Hall. The following are required by Illinois State Law:
- Must be a citizen of the United States
- Be 18 years old by the next election
- Vote at the address listed on the registration card
- Display two pieces of identification, including one with a current address
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What type of identification do I need to register to vote?
- Valid Driver's License
- Valid US Passport
- Illinois State ID
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate
- Employee or a Student ID
- Credit Card
- Utility Bill displaying applicant’s name
- Mail postmarked to applicant
- Public Aid ID Card
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When is the approved time for trick or treating on Halloween?
On October 31st between the hours of 3:00pm and 8:30pm.
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How was the site for the new Police Station selected?
What is the curfew for minors?
What are the winter parking rules and restrictions?
How was the site for the new Police Station selected?
After determining the need to build a new Police Station and Local Adjudication/Village Board Chambers, the Village looked at a number of options which included:
A. Village Owned Parcels
- Belmont & River – This site is located at the far eastern section of town and has several drawbacks for police operations including being blocked from the largest area of town by two sets of rail road tracks. This site would not be large enough for police operations and the Local Adjudication Courtroom which doubles as the Village Board Chambers. Purchase of an adjoining parcel would have made this site cost prohibitive. This site would require that the Police Station and Local Adjudication/Village Board Chambers have special building features to make it flood resistant because it is located across the street from the Des Plaines River. Additionally, River Road is closed during heavy rain events, hindering travel in that vicinity.
- Grand & Mannheim – This site was purchased to encourage retail development. The Village went to great lengths to put together a parcel large enough to accommodate a modern retail development on the site. The land is more valuable as a retail development due to it being a source of real estate and sales tax revenue as well as a local commercial area for the use of residents. The site is the best retail location in Franklin Park. The site would be 2 miles from Village operations which makes communication more difficult with other operations. The distance from other Village Operations and the loss of valuable retail space made this land undesirable for a Police Station location.
- The Crossings – Phase 2 – This site located at the Northwest corner of 25th and Franklin Avenue presents several challenges due to its location and size. Site access would be a major issue due to the configuration of 25th and Franklin Avenue in relationship to the rail tracks which would cause major safety concerns because of difficulties with ingress and egress. It would also be costly to develop as the facility would have to be multi-story and include a multi-story parking garage. The police operations would mean the unloading of dangerous perpetrators and the releasing of offenders in the downtown area directly connected to residential and commercial areas. A large portion of this property is unbuildable because of large oil cooled communications tubes running along the North side of the parcel.
- Southwest corner of Grand and Willow – This site is owned by the Grand Avenue Railroad Relocation Authority and would have to be transferred to the Village. This parcel is only accessible by an alley behind a residential area. Accessing the site safely from Grand Avenue would be an issue as it is right next to the underpass. The police operations would mean the unloading of dangerous perpetrators and the releasing of offenders in a residential area.
- Property adjacent to Village Hall – Parcel size is too small. All visitor parking would be on the south side of Belmont Avenue which would create safety issues. The layout of the lot would only allow for one access point on Belmont Avenue which is not good from a policing standpoint. If the single access point is blocked, police would not be able to access or leave the station.
B. Renting space in a warehouse:
This would have been expensive to build out and the Village would have had to pay taxes on the property in addition to lease payments. The Village would then have to pay to return the property to its original condition at the end of the lease.
C. Purchasing an existing building (e.g., former LaSalle Bank building on Rose Street):
This property required an environmental clean up which the owner would not pay for at the time. The property required extensive remodeling and expansion which would have cost approximately the same as the purchase and new construction of a police station on the Unilever site. The bank site and building had limitations: it would have been a very tight fit with no expansion capabilities for the Police Department and there was question as to whether or not the building would have been able to accommodate a Village court room and the necessary parking for public meetings. The police operations would mean the unloading of dangerous perpetrators and the releasing of offenders in a residential area South of the downtown directly connected to commercial areas.
D. Purchase of the 13.5 acre Unilever site for $2.1 million and construction of a building suitable for the Village’s needs. (The Village of Skokie recently purchased 6 acres for $6 million):
Option D, the purchase of the former Unilever site, was deemed to be the most attractive option based on the price and flexibility the site offered. The purchase would also allow the Village to implement plans recommended in the Transit Oriented Development study adopted in January, 2006 and paid for by $75,000 in grant funds. This study was developed with input from the public and other taxing bodies. Several public meetings were held to gather input for the plan from residents as well as meetings with key stakeholders in the Village. Two options were suggested for the Unilever site:
- Keep the site for industrial use (as Unilever was using the site at the time).
- Look to use the site as a potential Village campus (consolidate Village Hall, Police Station & Public Works). Due to the closure of Unilever, this option became the most feasible approach for the redevelopment of the property. No immediate plans for other Village buildings is contemplated at this time.
Unilever ultimately decided to shut down the facility in December, 2008. The site presents several challenges for reuse as an industrial facility:
- Site is close to the center of Franklin Park where residential properties are predominant.
- Buildings are older and have less desirable features such as: low ceilings, lack of truck docks, flow issues in the larger building as it has multiple additions, etc. The lack of modern industrial features made the property unattractive to potential industrial buyers and was destined to remain vacant for an extended time period.
Due to these reasons, the Village was able to obtain the property at the very low purchase price. No other purchase in Franklin Park or surrounding communities has been as low on price per square foot of land.
The Unilever site will ultimately allow for more of the Transit Oriented Plan to be implemented and will possibly permit the Village to consolidate municipal services at this location. Additionally, some of the land not used for the police station could also be available for sale for private development.
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What is the curfew for minors?
- Sunday-Thursday from 10:30pm until 6:00am the following day
- Friday from 11:30pm until 6:00am Saturday
- Saturday from 11:30pm until 6:00am Sunday
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What are the winter parking rules and restrictions?
Be advised that the winter No Parking restrictions are in effect on designated Snow Route streets after a 2” snow fall until snow clearing operations are complete. Please note that secondary streets have a No Parking restriction after a 2” snow fall from 9:00am to 9:00pm on the odd address numbered side of the street and 9:00pm to 9:00am on the even address side. Please check signs posted for clarification.
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