VRLB - Department of Public Works Divisions

ADMINISTRATION

The Administrative Division coordinates Capital Improvement Projects Capital and Road Improvement Projects and residential, commercial, and industrial developments with the Village’s Engineer. Additional responsibilities include managing contractual services such as facility maintenance agreements and Solid Waste Collection and inter-governmental collaborations with the Lake County Storm Water Management Commission and the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency.

The Administrative Division consists of a Public Works Director, an Assistant Public Works Directors, a Superintendent of Operations, a Public Works Supervisor, and two office Administrative Assistants.

For the past several years Administrative Division personnel have responded to an average of 1,200 monthly and 14,000 annual Customer Service Requests. The Department also completes an average of 1,500 J.U.L.I.E. locate requests, 9,000 water meter maintenance and service requests, and 630 after normal working hour emergency service calls annually. The Public Works Department consists of the following six Divisions:

WATER & SANITARY DIVISION

Since 1992, the Village’s potable water supply has been provided by the Central Lake County Joint Action Water Agency (C.L.C.J.A.W.A.) and the source is Lake Michigan. The Village’s water distribution system also consists of 6 back up wells, 2 elevated and 1 above ground storage facility with a storage capacity of 4 million gallons.

In addition, the water system consists of, 80 miles of various sized water distribution mains, and appurtenances intrinsic of 650 control valves, 700 fire hydrants, 8,000 water services and metered accounts. The Village pumps an average of 2.3 million gallons per day (GPD) during the summer months and 2 million per day during the winter months with an annual pumping volume of over 730 million gallons.

The Village’s sanitary collection system consists of 70 miles of various sized sanitary mains including 6 sanitary wastewater-pumping stations. Sanitary sewage is conveyed to the Northwest Fox Lake Water Reclamation District where it is treated and released. The Water and Sanitary Division maintenance programs include regular jetting, flushing, and cleaning of sanitary sewer mains and emergency response to sewer line blockages. e Village’s sanitary collection system consists of 70 miles of various sized sanitary mains including 6 sanitary wastewater-pumping stations. Sanitary sewage is conveyed to the Northwest Fox Lake Water Reclamation District where it is treated and released. The Water and Sanitary Division maintenance programs include regular jetting, flushing, and cleaning of sanitary sewer mains and emergency response to sewer line blockages.

STREET & DRAINAGE DIVISION

The Streets & Drainage Division is responsible for maintaining a clean, reliable transportation street network that allows for the safe and continuous movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at all times. The major functions of the division is the initial inspection and repair of deteriorated pavements, sidewalks, curbs, street lights and signage, storm sewer systems, ditch and swales, and Hook Lake Retention.

The street network consists of 80 center lane miles of paved streets including 90 cul-de-sacs. The Division manages and maintains 2,300 various types of traffic signage, 500 street lights, and 4,500 storm drainage structures (inlets, catch basins). The primary responsibility of this division during the winter months is Snow and Ice Control Operations. The Streets & Drainage Division also repairs parkway damage caused by Village snow and ice operations, as well as damage caused during utility excavations performed by the Public Works Department.

Parkway restorations consist of grading, leveling, and seeding only and repairs usually begin in April, weather permitting, and continue into early June. The Village suspends parkway repairs during the hot arid summer months, July and August, and continues remaining reparations in early September through November. Damage which occurs mid to late summer will be repaired in the spring of the next year.

SNOW AND ICE CONTROL OPERATIONS

The responsibility for providing snow and ice control for the Village’s 80 centerline miles of streets, 90 cul-de-sacs, and 3 miles of public service sidewalks rests entirely with the Department of Public Works. Snow and ice control is considered a priority during the winter season in that streets must be cleared any time of the day or night. Because of the potential hazard to the motoring public and high incidence of overtime involved in this program, careful planning and preparation must be completed prior to the snow and ice control season. This planning process is made considerably more difficult due to variable conditions encountered during each storm. Conditions such as the rate of accumulation of snowfall, moisture content, temperature, time of day or night, wind direction, velocity and duration, are all factors that interact to create a unique character for each storm and result in that no two storms are ever identical.

Our goal is to make all streets, courts and cul-de-sacs, specific side walks and crosswalks safe and accessible for vehicles properly equipped for winter driving conditions pedestrians, and for emergency services during and after a storm.

FACILITIES & PROPERTIES DIVISION

The Facility & Property Division is responsible for maintaining the integrity, value, and appearance of all village owned buildings through timely and cost effective maintenance or repairs of structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical, and HVAC systems as well as providing custodial and pest control services. The goal of these efforts is to provide a safe, clean and productive work environment for Village associates and the general public.

The Facility & Property Division maintains 6 primary Village owned buildings including the Village Hall, Police Station, Metra Train Station, Public Works, the Lakefront Shelters, and soon the new Community Cultural Civic Center. The total area of these buildings exceeds 100,000 square feet. Typical responsibilities include establishing preventive and predictive maintenance operations, responding to internal customer service requests, coordinating contractual custodial services, and performing routine building repairs.

FORESTRY & GROUNDS DIVISION

The care and maintenance of approximately 10,000 parkway and easement trees, the lake front, approximately 2 miles of creeks and channels, certain turf and landscaped areas, roadway rights-of-ways are the responsibility of the Forestry & Grounds Division.

The Division is currently completing an inventory and inspection of the Village’s Urban Forest. Urban Forestry management programs are designed to maintain the integrity of the Urban Forest, the trees health, to prevent disease, and enhance aesthetics. During the summer season the Division maintains and coordinates turf management of approximately 2.9 million square feet or 64 acres of Village owned properties. The division also maintains the lake fronts park structures such as the outdoor stage, gazebos, floating dock /piers, bath house, commuter station coin collection boxes.

FLEET SERVICES DIVISION

Fleet Services is responsible for the cost effective purchase, maintenance, repair and disposal of the Village vehicles and heavy equipment. Operating from the Public Works Facility, the Divisions staff includes two mechanics / technicians who maintain 75 vehicles and heavy equipment and 50 hand power tools. In addition, Fleet Services assists the Water & Sanitary Division with various mechanical and electrical systems at the Divisions pumping station facilities.

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