DuPage County Stormwater Utility Fee

 Very important information for  DuPage County residents.  I will be updating the blog as things move forward.


          DuPage may consider countywide stormwater fee By Robert Sanchez Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign legislation in the next two months giving DuPage the power to impose a stormwater utility fee on every property owner in the county, including schools, churches and other nonprofit groups. The proposal likely would save...          

This Week's Meeitngs

This Week's Meetings

Public Transit and Liquor Commission News

As Chairman of the Public Transit Committee,  easing traffic congestion in DuPage is a priority.  One way to ease traffic would be to increase PACE Bus usage.  Below is a link to the story in the DailyHerald.

DuPage to make pitch for more bus shelters

I'd be interested in hearing from you on the subject.  Please feel free to leave a comment.


Liquor Commission News

DuPage County Liquor Commission minutes and agendas are now available online.

In March I was contacted by an individual concerned that an agenda for the Liquor Commission meeting was missing.  There was no agenda on line and there was no agenda posted at the DuPage County campus.

I spoke with DuPage County staff to notify them that I believed this was a violation of the Open Meeting Act.  I was referred to the DuPage States Attorney Office.  After a long discussion with the States Attorney I was able to convenience them that in the interest of transparency and in the spirit of the Open Meeting Act that not only should the agendas for the Liquor Commission meetings be posted but minutes as well.

The minutes from the March 13, 32013 are now posted.  I was told agendas will be posted as well.

Although not earth shaking I am pleased that I was able to enact positive change.

Minutes posted here:  Liquor Commissioner

This Week's Meetings

This Week's Meetings

This Week's Meetings

This Week's Meetings

This week the DuPage County Board will be meeting at 7:00 pm.

FEMA Opens Disaster Recovery Center in Lisle Thursday

Financial Assistance Available for Residents Affected by Flooding, FEMA Opens Disaster Recovery Center in Lisle Thursday

Wheaton ... DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin urges residents affected by the recent flood to apply for federal assistance to help alleviate expenses incurred in the recovery process from the April storms.

“More than 9,000 DuPage County homes and businesses received extensive damage to their properties from the April flood. In an effort to help relieve some of the financial burden, the federal government is providing grants and low-interest loans to help cover some of the uninsured costs endured by families. I urge residents to apply for these grants and loans as they continue to work with their insurance companies during this recovery process,” said Cronin.

Throughout the past month, DuPage County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has worked with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to collect flood damage reports from residents and businesses. The information was then provided to the federal government, resulting in the presidential declaration. The declaration provides financial assistance to flood victims through grants to help with temporary housing, home repairs or replacement and other flood-related expenses. Low interest loans are also available to residents and businesses.

Residents can visit www.disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to apply for assistance. The toll-free telephone number will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until further notice.

For those who wish to apply for financial assistance in person, residents can visit the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located at the Lisle Police Department, 5040 Lincoln Ave. The facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until further notice. Even though the Lisle Police Department is housing the FEMA center, all questions pertaining to federal disaster assistance or the Disaster Recovery Center should be directed to FEMA at 1-800-621- FEMA (3362).

“We are pleased that FEMA is opening an office in DuPage County to assist our residents with their applications. Residents may find it more convenient to register directly with FEMA via phone or through the www.disasterassistance.gov website, as opposed to traveling to the Disaster Recovery Center in Lisle. They will receive the same kind of assistance from FEMA personnel as they would in person at the Disaster Recovery Center,” said Cronin.

For more information on how to apply for federal funding, visit www.ProtectDuPage.org.

The Federal Disaster Declaration Makes Assistance Available to Flood Victims

Governor Quinn Announces Approval of Federal Flood Relief for 11 Counties

Impacted Families Eligible to Apply for Grants and Low-Interest Loans; Businesses Can Apply for Low-Interest Loans

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced President Barack Obama has approved his request for federal assistance to help people and businesses in 11 Illinois counties recover from historic flooding in mid-April. The announcement comes just one day after Governor Quinn submitted his request for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will counties.

“I thank President Obama for his fast and responsive approval of our request for federal assistance to help families across Illinois recover from this devastating flood,” Governor Quinn said. “This quick action will help speed relief to the people of Illinois who suffered flood damages and help them begin rebuilding their lives.”

The federal disaster declaration will help people and businesses in the 11 counties by allowing them to apply for grants and loans to assist with storm-related losses.

Governor Quinn submitted a request for federal disaster assistance to President Obama on Thursday. The request was supported by damage assessment documentation that identified 41 homes in the 11-county area that were destroyed and 761 that suffered major damage. Thousands of additional homes were also affected by the floods. More than 3,500 homes in those counties were surveyed.

The federal disaster declaration makes assistance available to flood victims, including grants to individuals and households to help with temporary housing, home repairs or replacement and other disaster-related expenses, as well as low-interest SBA loans to residents and businesses

“We will begin working immediately with FEMA to ensure flood victims can get needed help as quickly as possible,” IEMA Director Jonathon Monken said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which administers the assistance program, has a toll-free telephone number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY for hearing and speech impaired) for victims to apply for assistance. Registration can also be done online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Damage assessments are continuing in many other counties hit by severe flooding and additional requests for federal assistance to help citizens in those counties are expected.