Village Promotes Drug Turn-in, Warns of Water-rate Increase

The following series of Clarendon Hills announcements were included in this week's Trustee Topics, courtesy of the .

Village Now Accepting Unused Prescription Drugs  

The is once again partnering with the D.E.A. to host a prescription drug turn-in. You may drop off unused prescription drugs to the Village Hall, police department or fire department during regular business hours. Residents may also drop off prescription drugs on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Department. Properly disposing of prescription drugs reduces the opportunity for prescription drug theft, abuse and improper disposal. 

Water Rates Increase May 1

Village water rates will increase to $9.77 per 1,000 gallons from $8.72 per 1,000 gallons beginning May 1. The rate increase is a direct result of a planned four-year rate increase from the City of Chicago, which is being passed on to the village from the DuPage Water Commission. In an effort to lessen the impact on residents, the village has scheduled the four-year planned rate increase to be spread over five years. 

Water rates go entirely to fund the village's water service. This includes the purchase of water from the DuPage Water Commission and the maintenance of the village's water system, which includes approximately 29 miles of water mains. Of these mains, approximately 16 miles are 67 years old or older. While the village deals with the mains in the worst shape as needed, it is important that the village maintains an adequate replacement schedule to maintain the integrity of the water system. It is necessary to pass on rate increase in the cost of water to consumers to ensure funds are available to address infrastructure needs. Residents will see the rate increase on their May bill, which arrives in early June.

Hinsdale Police Department Hosts Safety Village

The Hinsdale Police Department has received registration information regarding the annual Safety Village program, which is sponsored by the Katie Satkamp Memorial Foundation. All children living in Hinsdale/Clarendon Hills and/or in School District 181, and entering kindergarten or first grade in the fall are eligible for the program.

Safety Village is a miniature town with 16 small buildings including a police and fire station, Memorial Building, school, church, burger stand, ice cream parlor, library, hospital and others. There is a real working railroad crossing, lots of familiar signs and four working traffic lights all built to the scale of a small child. The children delight in driving toy cars throughout the village as they practice the safety rules for motorists, bicycles and pedestrians. Lessons in fire, strangers, railroad, toy, playground and water (54 facets in all) are taught with the aid of songs, stories, robots, puppets, movies, crafts, live play characters as well as teachers, police and fire personnel. Our goal is to help each child prepare for real life situations by allowing them to experience a simulated experience here in Safety Village first. We hope this will help them remember what to do if they are faced with the real emergency in the future.

Registration forms are now available at the Hinsdale Police Department and online through the Hinsdale Police Department's website.

Operation Straight I.D. Set for April 24

Operation Straight I.D. will be offered at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, at the Clarendon Hills Police Department. Anyone planning to serve alcohol at any community events or other functions this year is required to attend this training annually. This is the last training offered for the year. To register, please contact Officer Rick Talerico at rtalerico@clarendonhills.us or 630-286-5472.

Last Chance to Be a Planting Partner!

Opportunities to support the Village's Planting Partner Program are disappearing fast! Sponsors receive planting, maintenance, watering and a plaque with an inscription of their choice in one of the planting beds located right in downtown Clarendon Hills. Learn more and download the sponsorship form here, but hurry because sponsorship opportunities are going fast. Have questions? Contact assistant to the village manager Christina Burns at cburns@clarendonhills.us or 630-286-5402.

CHPD Reminder: Focus on the Road

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2009 alone, nearly 5,500 people were killed and 450,000 more were injured in distracted driving crashes. The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group—16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. Of those drivers involved in fatal crashes who were reportedly distracted, 30- to 39-year-olds had the highest proportion of cell phone involvement. The CHPD strongly encourages all drivers to not text while driving, and to only use a hands free device while using a cellular phone to make a call