Services and Responsibilities of Public Works Department & our Residents

Water Department
Sprinkler Bans
Water Supply & Treatment
Sanitary Sewer Department
Storm Water Management
Streets & Sidewalks
Yard Waste & Branch Collection
Trees & Landscaping
Parks
Garbage & Recycling Program
Julie Notifications
Street Lighting
Snow Plowing
Mailboxes

Water Department

The Public Works Department also consists of the water department, which includes 2 water operators, a crew leader and superintendent. There responsibilities include the daily water plant and lift station activities, water sampling, pump station maintenance, maintaining the records required by the regulatory agencies, meter and mxu installations and repairs, water break repairs, valve, b-box and hydrant repairs. Other items that fall under the responsibility of the water department are Julie locations, water leak locating and residential complaint responses.

Back To Top

Sprinkler Bans

At the present time the Village is not enforcing a sprinkling ban, however to conserve water especially during extreme heat and dry times the Public Works would like to ask residents to voluntarily abide by the following suggestions.

If you are using municipal water for lawn sprinkling these suggestions are being recommended. Residents should be sprinkling only between the hours of 6a.m. to 11a.m. and 6p.m. to 12 midnight. To conserve even more water an odd/even watering schedule could be used where homes with the last digit of their address being an odd number would water on odd numbered calendar days and even numbered addresses would water on even numbered calendar days.

In the event of a serious drought or water shortage this would be the sprinkling ban plan put into effect by the Public Works Department. If a sprinkling ban were put into effect residents would be notified that the restrictions have been activated and that it will be enforced.

Back To Top

Water Supply & Treatment

About our water supply:

In Lynwood the water you drink comes from the City of Hammond, Indiana who pumps it out of Lake Michigan, sells it to Munster, Indiana who sells it the Village of Lynwood. In emergency situations the Village also receives water from Hammond but this time it comes through the Village of Lansing. Lynwood maintains one-water pumping station along with a 1,000,000-gallon reservoir on Burnham Avenue. The water department also maintains water storage in two water towers. Lynwood Tower #1 holds 750,000 & Lynwood Tower #2 holds 500,000 gallons giving us a combined storage capacity of 2,250,000 gallons of water. The village uses and average of 750,000 gallons of water a day, which is continually increasing due to all the current residential developing. During summer months when it is hot and dry the daily consumption is much higher especially with the watering that is being done. (See sprinkler ban suggestions above).

Lynwood has 4 Water Operators they include two supervisors and two from the union. Water operators Dale Vander Woude and Anthony Ferry are the employees who residents will normally see at their homes either collecting water samples, installing water meters and outside reading devises or just helping residents with water problems. Our water operators collect a total of 10 regular monthly water samples, a quarterly sample and every other year they take 20 lead copper samples which are all sent to certified laboratories for analysis and then forwarded on to the Illinois EPA for verification.

The EPA requires each public water system to file a Consumer Confidence Report yearly showing the results of these water tests for all residents to see. The Village Consumer Confidence Report or (CCR) is available on line by clicking this link.

• Lynwood Consumer Confidence Report (2004-CCR)
• Lynwood Consumer Confidence Report (2005-CCR)

Back To Top

Sanitary Sewer Department

The Public Works Department maintains all sanitary sewer lines throughout the village except for the main Metropolitan Water Reclamation District lines that run along Glenwood Lansing Road, Torrence Avenue, Joe Orr Road and Stony Island. All Village sanitary lines eventually dump into the sewers above. The Public Works Department uses it’s recently purchased Vactor Jet & Vacuum Truck (see picture) to keep main lines running smoothly. Residents are responsible for their own service line that runs from the sanitary main to the home, or business. In the event of a sanitary back up It is advised that you first call the Public Works Department to check the status of the main sewers in your area. If the problem is determined to be that of the resident the Public Works Department will inform them that a plumber is required and the Building Department will be happy to provide you with a list of licensed plumbers. We require using a plumber that is licensed and bonded with the Village for your own protection. Make sure the plumber jets the line far enough out with a large enough piece to open the entire line. If the problem is the Village’s a crew will be dispatched to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Village of Lynwood Illinois Sewer & Storm Drain Crew

Vactor sewer jet & vacuum machine		Vactor cleaning curb basin
New large dump truck		New dump truck being loaded

Back To Top

Storm Water Management

The Public Works Department asks that residents refrain from dumping anything into storm sewer basins. All of the basins either run into Lake Lynwood or some of the surrounding creeks so dumping oils or other toxic liquids could have a serious effect on the environment. Storm Sewers may become momentarily overwhelmed (charged) and may not take water immediately during substantial rainfall in a short period of time. Once the storm subsides the water will begin draining again, if after the rainfall has stopped and the water is still not draining please contact the Public Works Department.

Please try and keep the basins clean from debris and remove leaves that cover the grates and block drainage. The basins are designed to collect overland water flow so drainage routes in back yards should not be changed.

Back To Top

Sidewalks & Streets

Sidewalk replacement

If you believe your sidewalk is in need of repair or replacement please contact the Public Works Department to be placed on a list for sidewalk inspection. If it is determined that your sidewalk is in need of repair or replacement there are a couple of options available to the resident.

1. The Village offers a sidewalk replacement program where the damaged sidewalks will be rated from worst condition to best condition and placed on the concrete replacement list. Depending on available funding the Village does a sidewalk replacement program once a year in late summer. Because of limited funds only so many sidewalks can be replaced at one time so once on the list you continually move up until it is eventually completed.
2. The second option is the Village 50/50 program where if the Public Works Department does agree that the sidewalk should be replaced but it isn’t really a serious hazard a resident can pay half the cost of replacement and the Village will pick up the remaining half. This must be done through the Public Works Department and the contractors of their choice.

Streets

Street Potholes – If you see a pothole in the street please notify the Public Works Department so that it can be placed on a list for pothole patch as soon as possible. Several times during the year Public Works Crews go throughout the Village patching potholes.

Calls about potholes located on State or County roads should be directed to either the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or the Cook County Highway Department.

Replacement or reconstruction of streets throughout the Village is done on a worst-case basis when funding is available.

Back To Top

Yard Waste & Branch Collection

Yard waste is collected by Homewood Disposal during your normal weekly garbage pick up from April 1st through November 30th yearly as long as it is either in bio-degradable paper bags or the Homewood Disposal yard waste bin that can be rented out. Biodegradable bags can be purchased at most hardware stores in the area. Yard waste placed in plastic bags and put out for pick up will be left until there are put in the proper container. Yard waste is collected by a separate truck and taken to special compost sites for disposal.

There is no special leaf program within the Village so leaf disposal / collection is handled the same as yard waste.

The Public Works Department performs branch pickup on Fridays between April 1st and November 30th yearly. Branches cut down should be placed in the parkway between sidewalks and curbs (NOT IN THE STREET) with cut ends facing opposite the flow of traffic, so the chipper can pull up and put the cut ends directly into the chipper. As an alternative to waiting for the Village to pick up your branches smaller branches should be cut into four foot lengths, tied with string and placed out for normal Homewood Disposals normal yard waste pick up.

Back To Top

Trees & Landscaping

The Public Works Department only removes trees from parkways when the tree is 75% dead. At this time the Public Works Department does not have the capabilities to remove the stump so trees will be cut as close to ground level as possible. To submit a request to have a tree in the parkway removed call the Public Works Department at 708-758-8434. Your address will be recorded and the tree looked at as soon as possible. For trees anywhere else on the resident’s property a private contractor would be required. For lists of license and bonded contractors you may contact the Building Department for names. Branches and logs from a tree removed by a private contractor must be hauled away by that contractor. See yard waste and brush collection for specifics on Village pick up.

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to trim trees that hang over the sidewalk so branches do not interfere with pedestrians. Periodically the Public Works Department trims low hanging branches into the street from the parkway trees for safety reasons. This helps prevent broken mirrors, smashed windshields and other hazards to vehicle that travel along the curbs such as plow trucks, post office vehicles, street sweepers, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks.

Christmas trees may be placed out with your normal garbage pick up for removal after the Holiday, no other branch or tree pick up will be done during this period.

If the Village does any maintenance work in your parkway or driveway and has to remove any sod or concrete the Village will return the area to its previous condition as soon as weather permits. Sod replacement is not done immediately following the parkway excavation work. The Public Works keeps a list of all properties that require restoration. Restoration work is usually performed in late spring or summer after the area has had time to settle. Scheduling depends on weather conditions.

Watering the new sod after its initial replacement? After the sod is replaced usually the last step in the restoration process watering becomes an issue. Sod is replaced either early spring or late summer to avoid the extremely hot or dry periods. Once the sod is laid a letter informing you that the restoration is complete and the sod has been watered are placed in your mailbox. The letter also states that it is now becomes the residents responsibility to water and maintain the parkway. Please water as often as possible in the initial 2 weeks until the sod has taken root. Sod is not continually replaced because of non-watering.

Back To Top

Parks

The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance of all park grounds and equipment. At the present time the Village has 6 parks located through out the Village. Lake View Community Park located between 198th Street and 201st Street and between Lake Park Drive and Lake Lynwood Drive is a park facility complete with baseball field, playground, ice rink or roller rink, sled hill, walking path and Concession Stand. Liberty Memorial Park located next to the Lynwood Fire Station & ESDA Office on Glenwood Dyer Road just west of Burnham Avenue includes a lake, walking path, playground, soccer field, baseball field and Annex Building that residents rent out for small parties. Terrace Park located at 198th Street & Park Avenue is a smaller park consisting of a small playground. Sonstead Subdivision has two parks one a small tot lot with playground equipment and the other a larger park still under construction that already includes tennis court and playground equipment. Lastly Rainbow Park located in the Sandridge Subdivision is a small neighbor park consisting of various playground equipment.

The Village plans for building a new double tennis court facility, which will be built at Lake View Community Park along 201st Street in the summer of 2006.

Back To Top

Garbage & Recycling

Yes there is a garbage and recycling pick up service that is provided to each resident through the Village. The Village contracts out the service to Homewood Disposal Service out of East Hazel Crest Illinois. They can be reached at 708-798-1004 if there are any problems. If your problem can’t be resolved please contact the Public Works Department. Pick up is weekly on Thursdays and in the event that one of the six holidays Homewood Disposal recognizes falls in that week service will be pushed back to Friday. The six holidays Homewood Disposal Service honors are New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Your garbage should not be placed out for pick up prior to 7:00 p.m. the night before the scheduled pick up and the cans should be brought back by 7:00 p.m. on the day of pick up. All garbage should be neatly placed out in the parkway along the curb not in the street. One larger item may be placed out a week for pick up and all garbage should be in plastic bags or containers.

Back To Top

Julie Notifications

Call JULIE Before you Dig 1-800-892-0123

Digging responsibly is the only way to dig. The alternative could mean disaster in the form of personal injury, damage to underground lines, property or the environment. Illinois law requires all persons digging, regardless of the depth of the project, to call JULIE at 1-800-892-0123 at least 48 hours (two working days) prior to the start of the excavation and to begin that excavation project within 14 calendar days from the calling JULIE. (The 48 hour notice does not include Saturdays, Sundays or Holidays.) Failure to contact JULIE prior to excavation in accordance with the law can carry penalties from $200 up to $5,000 for each separate offense. The Illinois Commerce Commission is the enforcement body for the law, not JULIE.

Back To Top

Street Lighting

Street Lighting problems such as a blinking light, light that goes on and off, damaged pole, street light either is on all the time or off all the time should be directed to the Public Works Department at 708-758-8434 in order to receive prompt repair service. You should also be aware that the Village is only responsible for those Street lights on aluminum poles not wooden poles.

Streetlights on wooden poles are owned and operated by Commonwealth Edison and therefore should be called into Commonwealth Edison at 1-800-Edison1 for repairs. Unfortunately repairs on these lights are not always as prompt as we would like so please be patient.

You can also call those into the Public Works Department and we will be happy to notify Commonwealth Edison also. The form below can also be filled out and it will be submitted to the Public Works Department.

Village of Lynwood Illinois Street Light Crew

A public works employee repairing a street light		Newer aireal truck
Aireal truck

Back To Top

Snow Removal

The Public Works Department Plows and salts streets as needed depending on the situation. When a storm begins during off hours the Police Department will contact the Public Works Department when conditions begin to deteriorate so the Public Works can get there equipment out. Unfortunately as the trucks plow the streets they push snow from the streets toward the curbs unfortunately pushing snow in front of and into driveways. Residents are responsible for clearing their own driveway approach to gain access into their garages.

To limit the amount of times you need to clear off your driveway we suggest that all snow being removed from your driveway and in front of your driveway be shoveled or blown into the parkways along the sides of your driveways. By putting it back into the streets the trucks will just plow it back in the driveways.

During a normal salt and or plowing event the Public Works Department has 4-5 plow trucks on the road. Main streets are the first to be plowed followed by normal residential streets. The Public Works uses 2 sets of two-truck teams plowing tandem so they can clean one entire side of the street in each pass. After running through a few blocks the trucks return to finish the other side of the street previously plowed. Each truck team has a specific route they must complete. After finishing their entire route they will start the same procedure all over again if needed. During the normal snow plowing large trucks will make 1– 2 passes in cul-de-sacs followed by a smaller truck that will totally clean it out.

To expedite plowing throughout the Village please keep in mind a few items. It’s against Village ordinance to deposit snow from driveways or private roads onto Village streets. Additionally residents should follow all of the no parking ordinances posted throughout town.

If you have a concern about roads not being salted or plowed that are not Village owned please contact the following entities.

Cook County Highway Department - Joe Orr Road, Glenwood Lansing Road & Stony Island.

Illinois Department of Transportation IDOT – Route-30 Lincoln Highway, Glenwood Dyer Road, Torrence Avenue & Burnham Avenue.

Village of Lynwood Illinois Snow Plow Crew

New plow truck		Plowing equipment
Oops, We don't do this

Back To Top

Mailboxes

Mailboxes are the responsibility of the homeowner and must be regulated to meet the requirements of both the United States Post Office and Village ordinances. The front of the mailbox must be a minimum of 6” off the back of the curb. And the post should be placed firmly in the ground not cracked, bent, rotted or rusted out. No straps, bungee cords, tape should be used to hold mailboxes together. Please be sure that the arm is securely attached to the post and the mailbox is securely attached to the arm. The Public Works Department will not be responsible for mailboxes damaged by a snowplow if the mailbox does not meet these requirements.

Back To Top