villager the frankfort - vofil.com · by dr. jerry ducay,administrator ... what many people in the...

A Tale of Two CitiesBy Dr. Jerry Ducay, Administrator

Continued on page 19

Continued on page 19

Thank You!

It is an honorand a privilege tohave beenreelected toserve as yourMayor for my

fourth term. I know that I willenjoy working with you and the Village Board to bringimprovements to our quality oflife in Frankfort. Thank you forallowing me to continue servingthe citizens of Frankfort.

Much in Frankfort is exceptional.We enjoy a quaint historic downtown district that is theenvy of the region. We are hometo quality residential and commercial development that isunlike any other in our area. We enjoy a level of volunteerismthat is unmatched by other communities. It is each of us,working in concert for the betterment of our community,who have made Frankfort thespecial place we enjoy. Thankyou for the part each of you hasplayed in this effort. Thank youfor supporting each other as weseek to take our community toeven higher levels.

We welcome a new member toour Village Board. Like so many

a 20-25% fund balance. This accomplishment, while exciting, isnothing new for Frankfort. We havehistorically managed fund balanceswell above the norm. Most of thisexcess reserve balance was theresult of a growing communitywith a steadily growing sales taxrevenue base. In response to thegrowing balances, we cut localproperty tax rates, rebated funds to residents, eliminated vehicles sticker fees, and increased services.We also held the line on expendi-tures and staffing – always seekingto become more efficient municipalmanagers.

But alas, this is a tale of two cities,not just one. If our story were toend today, the tale is one of wonderand splendor. Unfortunately, ourstory must look forward to thefuture and the chapters yet to bewritten. We must speculate onwhat the future holds and how weplan on addressing its challenges.In the coming months we mustembrace a changing financial

Mayor’s Message By Mayor Jim Holland

“It was the best of times, it was theworst of times…it was the seasonof light, it was the season of darkness…it was the spring ofhope, it was the winter of despair”(Dickens) it was the Tale of TwoCities. This Dickens excerpt playsin my mind as I ponder writingthis article – it is the essence of thejuxtaposed manifest destiny of theHamlet we call Frankfort. As welook back with glee at the exceptional accomplishments andfinancial stability of the past, wecannot ignore the need to look forward at the challenges sure to meet us around the next corner.An examination of Frankfort’sfinancial condition evokes positive comments and communal accolades. While most communities are struggling to keeptheir heads above water, Frankfortboasts nearly a 100% fund balance.Such balances allow the village to operate for a single year withzero revenue receipts. Most communities would consider themselves fortunate to maintain

VILLAGE OF FRANKFORT NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Trustee Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Utility Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Underground Utilities . . . . . . . 8

Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13

T H E F R A N K F O RT

Villager

Villager News April 17.qxp_Layout 1 4/21/17 12:45 PM

VILLAGE OF FRANKFORT

Mayor………………… Jim HollandClerk………………… Adam BorrelliTrustees…………… John C. Clavio

Cynthia Corso HeathRobert J. Kennedy

Keith OgleMike Stevens

Richard Trevarthanadministrator………… Jerry Ducay

administration Building432 W. Nebraska StreetFrankfort, IL 60423Phone: (815) 469-2177Fax: (815) 469-7999www.villageoffrankfort.com

Village Board roomVillage Board meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m.in the Administration Building.Meetings are available on cable TV and online at www.villageoffrankfort.com.

Special meetings and standing committee meetings are scheduledmonthly, or on an as-needed basis, and are announced. The public is invited to all meetings.

THe FraNKFOrT Villageris circulated three times yearly to residents and businesses in theVillage of Frankfort. Circulation iscurrently 7,200.

Statement of Purpose: To inform the community of issues, policies,and personalities pertaining to government in our village.

A Voice for the ChildrenBy Robert Piscia, Assistant Village Administrator

In March, several thousand peopleattended “Men Who Cook” inMokena. This was the 9th annualgathering in what has become avery popular local event. Thepremise of “Men Who Cook” is tochallenge men from around thearea to prepare specialty dishesand offer bite size samples to thediscerning attendees who then vote on their favorites. Members ofour police department have participated in the experience,preparing mouthwatering smokeddelicacies. They have even comehome with a victory outshiningother local chefs. As you can imagine, as the event has grown, so has the level of competitiveness.

What many people in the area may not know is that all of the proceeds to “Men Who Cook” goto support the Will County ChildAdvocacy Center which is a not forprofit organization supported surprisingly wholly by donations.As their website states, “TheCenter provides services to children who are victims of sexualabuse and severe physical abuse, including child sensitive interviewsfor law enforcement purposes,counseling, medical exams, legaladvocacy and communityresources referrals.” Ultimately,

they provide protection and justicefor those members of our commu-nity that can’t speak for themselvesbut need a voice.

The Will County Child Advocacywas started in 1995 by Will CountyState’s Attorney, James Glasgow,who recognized that Will Countywas in need of an organization that provided specialized servicesfor addressing child violence issues that were not currentlybeing provided by traditional governmental organizations. St.Joseph Medical Center matched agrant from the Illinois Departmentof Children and Family Servicesand the Child Advocacy Centerwas born. Locally, Mayor Hollandsits on the Board of Directors of theCenter.

The core effort of the Will CountyAdvocacy Center is to work with local agencies to provide avoice for the children affected by violence. Most importantly, theChild Advocacy Center acts independently and in the bestinterest of the victims to provide an avenue for them to reclaim theirlives. You can find more informa-tion of the Will County ChildAdvocacy Center website athttp://www.willcountycac.org/index.html.

So next year, if you are looking forsomething to do on a Saturdaynight and you hear about a “MenWho Cook” event being held locally, think about going out andtrying the cuisine. If you do, youwill be directly helping to providea voice to the children. �

PAGE 2 APRIL 2017THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER


http://www.willcountycac.org/index.html

Trustee Talk: Learning About GovernmentBy Trustee Cindy Heath

I recently hadthe pleasure ofworking with8th grade students fromHickory CreekMiddle Schoolfor their Student

Government Day. The level ofengagement, interest, and questions posed for village staffand elected officials was remarkable. It struck me that manyof those questions and answerswould be of interest to all residents.

People are often confused aboutthe various taxing districts thatprovide services to residents. Ialways explain to students that I,as a Village Trustee, have no influence over the elementaryschool or high school districtsbecause they are managed by separate boards elected by votersin those districts. When residentsask about their property tax bills,they learn that around 70% of thatbill is composed of taxes whichsupport our elementary, highschool, and junior college schooldistricts. Taxes levied by theVillage of Frankfort comprise justunder 5% of the total bill.

Furthermore, residents of theVillage of Frankfort may live intwo different park districts or intwo different library districts. Allthese legal boundaries were setyears ago.

Students also asked several questions regarding incorporatedvs. unincorporated land. Back in1879 the residents of “FrankfortStation” decided to incorporate inorder to control the developmentof property in their home areaswhich were surrounded by farms.They decided on a village form ofgovernment with a President(Mayor), 6 Trustees, and a Clerk.Only residents of those homesincorporated into the Village ofFrankfort are entitled to vote onthe Mayor, Trustees, and Clerk. So, for example, residents of unincorporated Frankfort Squaredo not vote in our municipal elections.

Today people want to be annexedinto the Village to control what is developed around them, plus they will benefit from services we provide through our PoliceDepartment and Public Services.How a parcel of land will bezoned – i.e., commercial,

residential, industrial, etc. – isdetermined at the time of annexation. There are quite of fewagricultural parcels of land faraway from our town center whichhave been annexed into Frankfort.They keep their Agricultural (AG)zoning and, at the time they develop into a different use, theyare rezoned. To change the zoningon a piece of property – which is already zoned residential, commercial, or industrial – is quitean undertaking.

Students raised many other interesting questions about theVillage Board itself. For example,can the Mayor and Village Boardmembers hold other jobs? Yes,because these are part time positions which pay very little. For example, my compensation as Trustee is $4,500 per Year.Regardless, there are several members of this board, includingthe Mayor, who are retired fromtheir careers and spend quite a lotof time on Village business.

Students also asked how much timewe spend as elected officials. Thereare two Village Board meetingsevery month, usually on the firstand third Mondays, but most of thedetailed discussion surroundingthese issues takes place duringmonthly committee meetings whichare also open to the public. There isa Planning and Zoning commission,which is comprised entirely of residents. They meet once or twicea month to review, discuss, and recommend to the Village Boardimportant issues regarding zoning,building or property uses in

APRIL 2017 PAGE 3THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER

Continued on page 8


diagnose. Officers are medics,assisting our community byresponding to medical emergencies,have knowledge of first aid, CPR,Narcan usage and defibrillators.Often they are the first on sceneand first to render aid which can be lifesaving or life giving, when helping to deliver a baby. PoliceOfficers are problem solvers. Oftenwhen someone has a problem orthey are lost the first people theycall are police. They are called if araccoon is stuck in a window well,a bicycle is found or someone sees aloose dog. When there is a disputewith a friend, family or neighbor itis the police they call to help mediate or give advice. Police offerservices like helping you get intoyour car or your house when youcan’t find your keys or maybe assistyou in changing a tire when youget a flat. We stop when you are onthe side of the road to see if youneed assistance. Police will walkthrough parks and stores to makesure everything is okay and to say“Hi” to those they see. Althoughthis is not an exhaustive list by anymeans it shows how the world ofpolicing is more demanding.

Being a Police Officer is not just

What is a police officer? That is ahard question to answer and it’s anever evolving one. Not long ago apolice officer’s mission was mainlyto keep the peace and enforce laws.They were expected to keep watchover a town or area to make surepeople were safe, help to preventcrime and to arrest those breakingthe law. Initially these were oftenvolunteers from the communitywho frequently lacked training,leadership or direction. As timewent on states, cities, counties and towns took over this business forming public supported departments with full-time policethat were better trained and hadformalized policy, procedure, standards and proper management.

As we fast forward to currentpolice practices, these departmentshave become more skilled and havetaken on increased responsibilitiesas many government services havebeen cut or faded away. The modern day officer is much morethan just a police officer enforcinglaws and keeping the peace.Officers must be able understandthe laws and keep up with newlaws and court decisions that areconstantly changing and can havean affect how they are enforced.Officers are expected to pick up thepieces that no one else is doing.Officers are at times social workerstrying to find help for those that are vulnerable and in need of assistance. They need to under-stand mental, emotional and behavioral issues and are expectedto be able to identify conditions in split seconds. These same conditions can take doctors and clinicians years to figure out and

A Present Day Police OfficerBy John Burica, Chief of Police

about enforcing laws and trafficsafety. It can require you to go from a warrior to a caretaker in amoment’s notice, sometimes severaltimes in a day. As many servicesdiminish, it is often the police thatpick up the pieces and try to fill inthe voids the best we can. Media isoften quick to report when an officer makes a mistake, but it isimportant to realize that no one isperfect and to realize that an officer’s intentions are to do thebest they can. It is also important toremember that officers often havelittle information, must react in amoment’s notice, but are most often judged when all the facts areknown. Most of all it is importantto realize that police officers arehuman, but we all chose this careerfor the same reason – to protectand serve our community. Wethank you for your support and we are here and ready for youwhen you need us. �


Village of FrankfortMobile App!

Download a free mobile appfrom iTunes (Apple products)

or Google Play (Android products) and stay connected

to the Village with your mobile device!

Search “Village of Frankfort” to download the free app!

You’re on the goand so are we!



Building. Your payment is on timeif placed in the drop-box on orbefore the due date.

By Phone – Pay your water billover the phone by calling the Village at (815) 469-2177.Convenience fees apply.

QUESTIONSWe are always available to answer any questions or discussconcerns with our residents. Pleasefeel free to email us anytime at [email protected], call us at (815)469-2177 or stop by the VillageAdministration Building located at 432 W. Nebraska Street betweenthe hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. �

E-Billing notification instead of aprinted bill, you may do so byclicking on the “E-Billing” buttonand checking the box next to youraccount number.

OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONSDirect Debit – At www.frankfortutilities.com, you can access the“Automatic Payment Form” to signup for automatic payments throughyour checking or savings account(ACH payments). Click on the“Automatic Payment Form” toaccess the form. Then complete andreturn the form to the Village ofFrankfort with a voided check.This service is free. You can alsoaccess this form through the Villageof Frankfort website.

In Person – Stop by the VillageAdministration Building to paywith cash, check or credit card.Convenience fees apply for creditcard payments made in the office(Visa, Mastercard and Discover areaccepted).

Drop-box (Checks only) – Yourpayment and water bill stub can be placed in our drive-through drop-box. The drop-box is locatedoutside the Village Administration

Did you know that you can payyour utility bill online? This payment option allows you to payat any time, day or night with noconvenience fees. You can alsoview your utility bill history andusage which allows you to manageyour household water consumptionin an efficient matter.

HOW TO SIGN UPGo to www.frankfortutilities.comto create an account. Or go to theVillage of Frankfort website atwww.villageoffrankfort.com andclick on “Pay Your Water Bill”under the “LIVE” heading and follow the link to the FrankfortUtilities website. Then click on the“Request New Account” buttonand follow the steps.

ONCE YOU’RE SIGNED UPYou Can Pay Your Bill Online� By clicking on the “Make

Payment” button� Check or credit card is accepted

(MasterCard, Visa, Discover andAmerican Express)

� No convenience fees

You Can Also View TheFollowing Information� Account summary� Consumption History� Billing History� Consumption Chart

The consumption chart displaysyour water usage pattern, whichcan make it easier for you to manage water usage or budget formonths that are typically higher.

Go PaperlessIf you would like to receive an

Utility Bill Payment Made Easy!By Jenni Booth, Director of Finance

Hydrant Flushing Scheduleapril 17 through May 26, 2017

Signs are posted in advance of flushing.

Details are online at www.villageoffrankfort.com

under “Live/Village Services.”


www.frankfortutilities.com

APRIL 2017THE FRANKFORT VILLAGER

Automated Utility System MappingBy Tony Minette, Director of Utilities

How would you like to operateand maintain something you cannot see? This sounds impossible, doesn’t it? Well, in the world of underground utilities,this is the challenge. With milesand miles of piping and valvesburied several feet undergroundand manholes and valve vaultspotentially covered by landscapingor pavement, it can be difficult justto locate an asset. For decades, theindustry has identified the locationof underground utilities by recording their location on papermaps that were manually updatedwith general information andreprinted over and over again.Although functional, this system is inefficient and prone to humanerror.

To address this issue, the FrankfortUtility Department is currently utilizing technology to record the

exact location of undergroundassets. Utility team members arephysically capturing the locationsof these assets by using a handheld device to record the GPS coordinates. This informationis then transferred to an existingGeographical Information System(GIS) that plots their location on an electronic map. Eventually, this data will be accessible by personnel in the field to assist

them in locating buried assets andrecording maintenance data.Data collection is labor intensiveand will take considerable time butit will permanently save accurate,detailed data and make it readilyavailable. The GeographicalInformation System (GIS) can alsorecord the physical attributes of theassets and historical maintenancedata. This initiative will go a longway to support budgeting and capital planning efforts as well asimproving daily operations andmaintenance.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything mentioned in this article or anyother topic, please feel free to callthe Utility Department at (815) 469-2177. �

Your Opinion Counts!Let us know your thoughts, concerns, or suggestions on ways to improve our village. Let us know about acts ofpeople who deserve special recognition. The Village will review submissions for appropriate response and action.

Dear Village Board, ___________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address & Phone (optional)____________________________________________________________________________

Drop the completed form off at the Village Administration Building or mail to:Village Board, Village of Frankfort, 432 West Nebraska Street, Frankfort, IL 60423

or logon to www.villageoffrankfort.com and click on “Contact Us.”



Many of Frankfort’s subdivisionshave active homeowner’s associations (HOAs). In most cases,part of the HOAs duties are toenforce private regulations in thesubdivision, known as covenants,conditions and restrictions – orCCRs. While many see the benefitof the restrictions, questions oftenarise regarding the authority andenforcement of the CCRs, as well asthe role of the Village in upholdingthe covenants.

Covenants, conditions and restrictions (CCRs) are privaterestrictions on land set in place bythe current or previous owner. Inthe case of residential subdivisions,the developer declares the CCRsbefore building homes and sellingproperty to new homeowners. The CCRs often set standards of minimum home size, usage of outdoor space and other aestheticconsiderations.

A principle reason for declaringCCRs in a subdivision is to set apermanent standard, independentof governmental action. The standards recorded in the CCRs are

often set higher than minimumsprescribed by village code and mayinclude items not regulated by thevillage. Provided the restrictions do not violate constitutional provisions, courts have long heldthe validity of CCRs in land usecases.

Although clearly enforceable, theaction of enforcement can be a challenge for HOAs because theiractivity tends to fluctuate based onneed and the level of activity of theHOA board. It is common for aboard to deem some items lessimportant than others, only for thesame to be deemed more importantby the next board.

Recognizing the natural ebb andflow of HOAs, the village uses itspermit process as a catch in timesof lesser HOA involvement and amediator during times of heightened HOA involvement.When an applicant submits a permit, the village flags it for HOAapproval if there is a known HOA.

Confusion can arise for the applicant, the HOA and its

membership because it appears thevillage is acting as enforcer. Intruth, the village is simply using itspermit process as a checkpoint toassist the HOAs. Maybe a fine line,but in cases where the applicantand HOA cannot find agreement,the applicant may still be entitled toa permit if the application meetsvillage code.

These situations are most difficultand the village attempts to mediatedifferences while adhering to a reasonable timeframe for the permitprocess. If all else fails, the villagewill determine if the permit meetsvillage standards and will informboth parties of its intentions on acertain date in the future. Thisprocess allows either party time toengage the court system to render adecision on the debated privaterestriction. The applicant can seekan order that requires the villageissue the permit or an HOA canseek an order that restricts the village from issuing the permit.Most cases never get this far, butfor those that do the process provides opportunity for all partiesto be heard in a fair and objectivemanner.

If your subdivision enforces privaterestrictions, it is important theHOA board regularly updates thevillage on its current membershipand contact information. Updatesare regularly obtained at our annual HOA meeting, howeverupdates throughout the year arewelcomed. �

Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, Your HOA and the VillageBy Jeff Cook, Director of Development Services

The Village holds an annual meeting with all HOA’s as a general overview of Village policies and services.



Watching Out For Underground UtilitiesBy Terry Kestel, Superintendent of Public Works

Throughout the year, the VillagePublic Works and UtilityDepartments attend safety training.The training covers confined space entry, proper trenching, back safety, personal protective equipment, and many more important safety topics.

In March, the safety topic was presented by a representative fromJULIE. As you may or may notknow, JULIE is the company youcall when you are going to performany digging projects. They create a JULIE request that then goes out to any companies that maintainunderground utilities in the proposed digging area. Examplesof these companies includeComEd, Nicor, Comcast, Village of Frankfort, and various pipelinecompanies. These companies thenhave the responsibility to mark outwhere their utilities are located.

It is important for anyone whoplans on digging to call for thislocate request. There is no chargeto any one calling in the request.Requests need to be called in 48hours prior to the planned digging.The 48 hours is based on workingdays. For detailed information on working days or other questions, visit their website at www.illinois1call.com. With manyresidents doing projects

themselves, having these utilitiesmarked out protects them frombeing hurt or the utility from beingdamaged.

The Village of Frankfort marksthree different utilities; water andsewer main, and streetlight wires.Service lines off the water andsewer main are the responsibility of the individual property owners.While planting a tree or replacing a mailbox post may not be deepenough to conflict with water orsewer, it certainly could conflictwith streetlight wires. So pleaseremember to call for the JULIErequest prior to any planned digging to protect yourself and theutility from harm.

JULIE requests can be made by calling 811 or using their website at www.llinois1call.com. �

board can override his veto. Thereis no formal succession plan forMayor, but the Mayor names a different trustee each month toserve as Mayor Pro Tem in hisabsence. There is no mandatoryretirement age for being an electedofficial, and there are also no termlimits.

If you are interested in finding outmore information about the Villageand how it operates, check out thevideo of this recent StudentGovernment Day. You can view it on the village website www.villageoffrankfort.com andclick under the “FCTV ONDEMAND” link. �

2017 BranchPickup Schedule

april 3 throughOctober 16

Branches should be set outby 7:00 AM on Monday,stacked neatly with cutends facing the street.

For additional details, visitwww.villageoffrankfort.com

under “Live/VillageServices.”

Frankfort. Once per year in thespring, residents can apply to jointhese committees.

To be an elected official, the personmust be a resident of Frankfort, 18years of age or older, and not be aconvicted felon. Only the trusteesvote at Village Board meetings, andthey can vote on anything unlessthey have a conflict of interest. Incase a conflict of interest ever arose,the elected official would recusethemselves from discussions andnot vote on the issue. The Mayorvotes in the case of a tie and canalso veto a vote. However, a two-thirds (super majority) vote of the

Trustee Talk, cont. from page 3


For Additional Information and Details on EventsVisit www.villageoffrankfort.com, under “Calendar of Events” or sign up to receive email updates!

earTH DaY/arBOr DaY CeleBraTiONSaturday, April 228:30 AMUtilities/Public Works Facility524 Center Road

FraNKFOrT HalF MaraTHONSponsored by The Lincoln-Way SchoolDistrict 210 FoundationSaturday, April 297:00 AMDowntown Frankfort

FraNKFOrT COUNTrY MarKeTSundays, April 30 – October 299:00 AM to 2:00 PMDowntown Frankfort

CrUiSiN’ FraNKFOrTThursdays, May 11 – September 145:00 PM to 9:00 PMDowntown Frankfort

MeMOrial DaY CereMONYMonday, May 2910:00 AMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

MOVieS ON THe greeNTuesday – June 13, July 11 & August 88:30 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

FriDaYS ON THe greeNSponsored by the Frankfort PublicLibraryFridays – June 9 through July 2110:00 AM to 11:00 AMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

FiNe arTS FairSaturday, June 1710:00 AM to 3:00 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

CONCerTS ON THe greeNSundays, June 18 – August 276:30 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

“geT HOOKeD ON FraNKFOrT” FiSHiNg DerBYSaturday, June 248:00 AM to 11:00 AMPrairie Park - Downtown Frankfort

4TH OF JUlY CeleBraTiONTuesday, July 45:00 PM to 9:00 PMMain Park - Nebraska Street

BlUegraSS ON THe greeNSponsored by the Bluegrass CommitteeSaturday, July 8 & Sunday, July 9Times TBABreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

NaTiONal NigHT OUTagaiNST CriMeTuesday, August 16:00 PM to 8:00 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

aMaTeUr riB COOK-OFFSaturday, August 5Public Tasting Times TBADowntown Frankfort

BiKe THe TrailSponsored by LW Special RecreationAssociationSaturday, August 2610:00 AM to 1:00 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

FraNKFOrT Fall FeSTAugust 31 through September 4Downtown Frankfort

OlD PlaNK rOaD Trail 5K rUN/WalKSaturday, October 78:30 AM to 11:30 AMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

TrUNK Or TreaTSaturday, October 2811:00 AM to 1:00 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

VeTeraN’S DaY CONCerTSponsored by Hickory Creek Middle SchoolThursday, November 96:30 PMHickory Creek Middle School

Tree ligHTiNg CereMONYThursday, November 306:30 PMBreidert Green DowntownFrankfort

CHriSTKiNDlSponsored by the Frankfort HistoricBusiness AssociationSaturday, December 2 &Sunday, December 3Noon to 4:00 PMDowntown Frankfort

Calendar of Events 2017



Country Market HoursSpring: April 30 to May 28 10:00 AM - 2:00 PMSummer: June 4 to August 27 9:00 AM - 2:00 PMFall: Sept. 10 to October 29 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

No Market onSunday, July 9 or Sunday, September 3

Expanded Market to Enjoy!Fresh Produce • Plants • Organic/Gluten Free Products

Prepared Foods • Baked Goods • EventsLive Entertainment

Special Event Sundays:May 7, July 30 & September 10 - Petting Zoo

May 28 - Cow/Calf ExhibitJune 4 & August 27 - Pony Rides

Frankfort Country MarketEvery Sunday • April 30 – October 29 • Downtown Frankfort


Cruisin’ Frankfort 2017Every Thursday

5:00 PMto

9:00 PMDowntown Frankfort!

May 11 through September 14No Cruise on August 31

For a list of the feature cars, visitfrankfortcarclub.club

orwww.villageoffrankfort.com

under the Calendar of Events.

Sponsored by:Frankfort Car Club

and the Village of Frankfort

For more information and details, visit www.villageoffrankfort.com.

EXCITING CRUISIN’ NEWS!

Kansas Street from White Street to Oak Street and AshStreet from Kansas Street to Nebraska Street will be closed every week (May 11 through September 14) forCruisin’ Frankfort beginning at 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM.

Signs will be posted for convenience.


www.frankfortcarclub.club

Grab a blanket or bring a lawn chair. It’s free family movie time under the stars at

Breidert Green in downtown Frankfort!

NEW DAY – TUESDAY!Feature Film: 8:30 PM (or Dusk)

Free Popcorn20’ Screen • No Pets • No Alcoholic Beverages Allowed

In case of weather, rain date is one week from the original movie date!In case of inclement weather on rain date, movie will be held at Founders Center, 140 Oak Street.

Call for further details: (815) 469-2177 • (815) 469-9400 • (815) 469-3356

Sponsored by: Village of Frankfort • Frankfort Chamber of Commerce • Frankfort Park District

Lights, Camera, Action!Movies on the Green in Frankfort!

Tuesday, June 13“Secret Life of Pets”

Rated PG

Tuesday, July 11“BFG”

Rated PG

Tuesday, August 8“ET”

Rated PG


Village of Frankfort Fine Arts FairExperience… featured works of art and demos by Frankfort area

premier artists

Enjoy… browsing through the shops and restaurants

Relax… while sampling a tasting of wine or favorite cheese

Listen… to relaxing music performed throughout the day by

local musicians

Wine Tasting Tent12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Sponsored by the Village of FrankfortVisit www.villageoffrankfort.com for additional event

information.

In case of weather, event moved to Founders Center140 Oak Street in Frankfort

Saturday, June 1710:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Village Green in Downtown Frankfort


Join Us for a Grand Time!

Frankfort Bluegrass FestivalSaturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9Breidert Green - Downtown Frankfort

Sponsored by the Frankfort Bluegrass Committee

Visit www.frankfortbluegrassfest.com for detailsand performer schedule

Saturday, June 248:00 AM to 11:00AM (Rain or Shine)

For Kids Only: Ages 3 to 12

Prizes Awarded for“Most Fish Caught” and “Biggest Fish Caught”

in each age bracket

Save the Date - Registration Is RequiredDetails & registration form available soon

Registration forms will be available on the Village of Frankfortwebsite, www.villageoffrankfort.com.

Sponsored by the Village of Frankfort


“Get Hooked” on Frankfort Fishing Derby at Prairie Park

Tuesday, August 16:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Breidert Green – Downtown Frankfort

Police and Fire Department Demos

Games & Inflatables

“Touch the Truck” Program

Fun for the entire family!

Frankfort’s Night Out Against Crime



Frankfort Amateur Rib Cook-OffSaturday, August 5 – Breidert Green – Downtown Frankfort

Contestants Cook on Site • Public Tasting • Music • Awards

Sponsored by: Frankfort Area Jaycees • Village of Frankfort •Frankfort Lions Club

ADMISSION IS FREE

Tickets sold for each rib piece tasting

Jaycees & Lions Club concession standsavailable for enjoyment

Judging:

Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd placeand “Crowd Pleaser”

Detailed application, rules, procedures,and waiver form can be downloaded from

www.villageoffrankfort.com.

Thanks to Earth Day Volunteers!

The Village of Frankfort celebrated Earth Day onSaturday, April 22 with its annual “clean up” day.As in the past, hundreds of volunteers pitched in to help collect debris and plant flowers throughout the community. Various residents, Daisy, GirlScout, Cub Scout, Boy Scout troops, homeowner associations, as well as members of the Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, and police cadets wereeager to volunteer their time to make Frankfortbeautiful during the event.

The National Arbor Day Foundation honored theVillage of Frankfort with an award as a “Tree CityUSA”. The Village has received this award formany years due to its dedication to Earth Day.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered during Earth Day 2017!



District 161 Introduces New Science CurriculumBy Barb Rains, PHR, Superintendent of Summit Hill District 161

For their final assessment, studentsparticipated in an activity wherethey had to design and develop apop-fly launcher prototype for alocal little league team. Studentsused a variety of materials to createa launcher that could throw a largemarshmallow through the air to aheight and distance of at least onemeter. All groups were successfulin meeting those requirements andsome even sent their marshmallowsall the way across the room!

At Indian Trail School, fourthgraders have been focusing onspeed and energy. Students arelearning new ideas and conceptsthrough various forms of media,such as online videos, interactivewebsites, and reading passages.

This school year, District 161 introduced a new science curriculum to students and staffmembers. The program,STEMscopes, aligns to the newstate science standards.STEMscopes utilizes the Problem-Based-Learning (PBL) theory givingstudents hands-on learning experiences. Teachers at variousgrade levels have been diggingdeeper into learning concepts withthe new STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, &Mathematics) curriculum.

Third grade students at FrankfortSquare School and Arbury HillsSchool learned about balanced andunbalanced forces in their Objectsand Motion unit of STEMscopes.

Some videos provide informationrelating to speed and energy, suchas comparing sloths and cheetahsor connecting forces and motion to outdoor activities. Other videoswere interactive where studentswere presented with a problem tosolve. In addition, students worked with many hands-on activities, where they explored therelationship between speed andenergy. In one activity, studentsmeasured cars traveling downramps and used the data to make connections between the relationship of speed and energy. �

community are strengthenedthrough frequent service projects.Among many philanthropy effortsthis year, students have honoredlocal law enforcement, raisedmoney for cancer research, andpacked meals for the hungry.It’s hard to believe that our seniorswill be graduating in a few shortweeks; we couldn’t be prouder ofthe example they have set for theunderclassman. We look forward towrapping up a successful yearwhile preparing for our incomingfreshmen! �

Lincoln-Way District 210 UpdateBy Dr. R. Scott Tingley, Lincoln-Way High School District 210

Spring marks another year of student growth and success acrossacademics, athletics, and activities.

Academically, teachers spent hundreds of hours preparing students for Advanced Placement(AP) exams, the ACT, and thenewly state-mandated SAT. Thenumber of students taking APexams this year has increased from 1,914 to 2,040, providingopportunities to earn college credit.Although the ACT is no longermandatory, over 1,700 Lincoln-Way students opted to tackle thechallenge. Juniors completed SATtesting on April 5, and we look forward to seeing the results of

thoughtful preparation and practice when test scores arereleased later this summer.

This semester, our student-athletesearned numerous achievements. InFebruary, the Lincoln-Way EastCheerleading Team brought hometheir third State ChampionshipTitle in four years, and the Lincoln-Way West Wrestling Team madeschool history when they tookthird in Class AAA at the StateTournament. Throughout the district, many individuals havecommitted to compete in athleticsat the collegiate level.The connections that students continue building with their



competing. They participated inwheelchair basketball, sit volleyball, goalball for the visuallyimpaired and a disability awareness rotation. Students usedsport chairs and other equipment to experience the sport the way someone with a disability mightexperience it.

We highly recommend other school districts and communityorganizations consider LWSRA as a resource for building betterunderstanding and acceptance of those with physical or developmental disabilities. Theirprograms of education, trainingand hands-on experience canextend this knowledge to everyone.More information about LWSRA isat www.lwsra.org. �

Frankfort School District 157-Cthanks our community for its overwhelming support of the fifthannual basketball game betweenHickory Creek Middle School students and staff and theLincolnway Special RecreationAssociation (LWSRA) HawksWheelchair Basketball Team. Opendonations at the door and fundraising efforts at the schoolsprior to the game raised over $5,500to support the LWRSA programs.This fun, family event was sponsored by the District 157-CCharitable Giving Committee.

LWSRA's mission is to providerecreation and leisure services forindividuals with physical or intellectual disabilities while promoting greater disability awareness in the community. Ourstudents were excited about thegame and amazed by the skills ofthe LWSRA team. Prior to thegame, all three schools benefitedfrom programs by LWSRA staffand athletes to gain insight about

adaptive sports and wheelchair basketball. At Hickory Creek during a physical education“takeover,” students learned aboutthe limitations and freedoms athletes might experience while

Great Community Support for 157-C Fundraiser for LWSRABy Dr. Maura J. Zinni, Superintendent of Schools, Frankfort School District 157-C

The fifth annual basketball game between Hickory Creek Middle School students andstaff and the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) Hawks Wheelchair

Basketball Team. The event raised over $5,500 for the LWSRA.

Frankfort TownshipFood Pantry

Frankfort Township’s food pantry assists peoplein the Township who are experiencing difficult times.

Food donations are always welcome and may be dropped off at theFrankfort Township Office,11000 W. Lincoln Highway.

For more information, please contact Jeannine Hetfleisch at (815) 806-2761.

Do you have a question or comment for theVillage Board during the live Village board meeting?

Just email [email protected] during the meeting!



815-469-3356 for details). Your generous support of our Chamberallows our organization to activelymaintain our annual local contributions to other organizationsand upcoming events such as scholarships, school foundations,Earth Day, Fourth of JulyFireworks, Lions, Friends of theLibrary, Movies on the Green andmore. Supporting our communityand showcasing our local businesses is something that we are proud to do on an ongoingbasis. �

Prestwick Country Club; last yearthis event SOLD OUT so get yourtickets early! Concerts on the Greencelebrates its 30th anniversary thisyear beginning Sunday, June 18and running thru August 27. Therewill be an anniversary celebrationJuly 30! These are a great way tospend a lazy Sunday evening, graba basket and relax with the familyon Breidert Green. Finally don’t forget Labor Day weekend,Frankfort & Co., Frankfort FallFestival (September 2-4) comes totown! Come and enjoy all that FallFest has to offer, or better yet, volunteer at Fall Fest (call the office

The Frankfort Chamber ofCommerce celebrates 50 years in2017! At our Annual meeting heldat Prestwick Country Club weinstalled our 2017 Board: SteveHogan (president), RichardRappold (internal v.p.), PaulineModjeski (external v.p.), CraigLyons (Treasurer), Gretchen Dust(secretary), Tom Kara (past president), Judy Hageman (director) Kris McGuire (director),Maria Hohman (director), ElizabethPaulsen (director), Christopher Bell(director) & Lisa Ricchio (2017 FallFest Chair). In January we beganMeet, Greet & Network in a newlocation, our beautiful FrankfortPublic Library! The response wasoverwhelming as we had morethan 85 area businesses represented. This well attended networking series exposes ourmembers to informational resourcesthat provide them with some typeof actionable item and is offered the third Tuesday of each monththrough November.

The Annual Chamber Golf Outingwill be Monday July 24 at

2017 Marks 50 Years for the Frankfort Chamber!By Alicia Bermes, Frankfort Chamber Executive Director

For your convenience, free parking is provided in municipal owned parking lotslocated throughout the downtown district.

All parking lots are marked for public use, have lights, and are within walking distance of all businesses in downtown Frankfort. For your convenience, free parking is provided in municipal owned parking lots located throughout the downtown district.

All parking lots are marked for public use, have lights, and are within walking distance of all businesses in downtown Frankfort.

Thank You for Visiting Downtown Frankfort!

Public Parking Options - Downtown Frankfort


first use.• Always position the grill well

away from combustible objects –buildings, fences, deck railingsand landscaping can easily andquickly ignite.

• Check all propane tanks and linesfor leaks and damage.

• Clean your grill and periodicallyremove grease build-up in catchtrays to prevent it from igniting.

For more details on seasonal firesafety, contact the Fire PreventionBureau at 815-469-1700. You canalso look for us on social media, orvisit our website at www.frankfortfire.org. We hope you have a safeand happy Spring! �

owned just 4 parks!

As Frankfort grew so did the needfor more parks and programs.Through grants, volunteer groups,builder contributions and tax dollars, the District was able to purchase and improve the parks.Today, the District maintains 19 park parcels which include 254 acres of park space, 18 play-grounds, 12 picnic shelters, 14 ballfields along with many otheramenities.

The volunteerism that started theDistrict continues to be presenttoday. Operation PlaygroundFoundation, countless volunteersand the Board of Commissionerscontinue to move the District forward. The Board of

The Frankfort Park District is Celebrating 50 Years of Success!By Gina Hassett, Executive Director

It was over 50years ago thatFrankfort residents hadthe foresight toestablish andpurchase Main

Park. The countless volunteers ofthe “unofficial Park Board” soughtdonations, dugout the baseball diamonds and maintained the park.This group was committed to providing parks for Frankfort. Thevolunteers took efforts to establishthe Park District that would continue to serve Frankfort.

The Park District celebrated its silver anniversary in 1992. During the 90s, the District operated the Administrative officesout of the Puent building and

Commissioner’s continues to evaluate the needs of the communi-ty and looks for opportunities thatwill allow the District to increaseservices and facility options.

Come join the fun in all the specialactivities the District has plannedthroughout the year to celebrate the50th Anniversary. We look forwardto seeing you there! �


recommendations.• Properly store household

chemicals and never mix cleaningagents.

• Test your smoke and carbonmonoxide detectors, change batteries immediately if needed.

Outside & Around the Yard:• Make sure your address numbers

are up and visible from the street. • Be mindful of powerlines when

trimming tree branches.• Call JULIE (8-1-1) before digging.• Let power equipment cool for

approximately 30 minutes beforeplacing it inside.

• Inspect your grill and exterioroutlets for animal nests prior to

Spring marks the arrival of warmerweather, longer days and flowers.Spring also signifies the arrival ofan annual tradition, the “SpringCleaning”. As you begin cleaningup from the long winter, makingrepairs around the home and enjoying the outdoors, keeping afew safety thoughts in mind willhelp you make your spring experience much more enjoyable.

Inside the Home:• Be safe while on ladders and step

stools.• Be careful moving large pieces of

furniture and appliances.• Always follow cleaning product

label safety instructions and

Frankfort Fire Protection DistrictBy Deputy Chief Sean Fierce


www.frankfortfire.org

Frankfort Square Park District Community Park RedevelopmentBy Jim Randall, Executive Director, Frankfort Square Park District

The release of Open Space LandsAcquisition and Development(OSLAD) grant funding for theCommunity Park Redevelopmentproject will provide a fresh look toour oldest park site. Look for construction of the new amenitiesto begin this May.

Community Park, constructed in1974, was the first park created bythe Frankfort Square Park District,and has long been considered the“front door” to our community.Since this park’s inception, recreation demands, population,and demographics surrounding thesite have changed dramatically.FSPD’s Comprehensive Plan identified park renovation as thetop capital improvement priority.As part of that planning process,information received through public input from surveys, a ParkBoard Workshop and resident

feedback helped to formulate a planto redevelop Community Park. Therenovated park site will reflect amore passive, adult-oriented park,

designed to serve the needs of all,particularly nearby residents.Park improvements will includecommunity garden plots and ADAaccessible planters. Solar-lit pathways and green roof picnicshelter will make the park moreaccessible. Game tables, bag toss,bocce, horseshoe, and pickleballcourts will provide a little friendlycompetition. Pond improvements,including native plantings a rockoutcropping, along with nativetrees will improve the aesthetics,with interpretive signage adding aneducational component.

For more information on this project and the Frankfort SquarePark District, please visit our website at www.fspd.org, contactthe park office at (815) 469-3524, orbecome a fan of our Facebook page. �

Solar panel lighting – one of the manyCommunity Park design improvements!


learning about constructing newobjects, stories and ideas. We kickoff the Youth activities with ourannual Mad Cap Puppet programsponsored by the Friends of theFrankfort Public Library. Thisyear’s program is called, “MonkeySee – Monkey Do” and will be atBreidert Green on Friday, June 9that 10:00 A.M. I will see you there! �

Public Library District. Please contact me via email [email protected] ifyou are interested. The Board ofLibrary Trustees and I will be setting up dates and making choices available.

Of course, the “Really Big Show,”of our season is the SummerReading Program for Youth, Teensand Adults! This summer’s themeis “Build a Better World!” We hopeeveryone can be involved in someaspect of building, making or

I want to thank each of the 550+individuals who helped us by filling out our Strategic OpinionSurvey! We received valuable dataand extremely helpful commentsfrom our community. I want toextend an invitation to our districtresidents and Frankfort residentswho are not in our district, to joinus for focus group sessions. We willhold several at various timesbetween May and September to listen to and discuss your thoughtson the future direction and community service of the Frankfort

Spring Into Summer Reading!By Pierre Gregoire, Library Director


before him, John Clavio joins ourranks as a long-term communityservant. A former ChamberPresident – two-time chairperson ofFrankfort’s Fall Fest, volunteer forthe Frankfort Children’s MuseumGala fundraiser and volunteer forthe Frankfort Historical Museum –John brings a wealth of communityexperience to our board.

We thank Doug Walker, who hasserved sixteen years as a trustee, for his service to Frankfort and forhis vision for Frankfort. Dougchaired our Economic DevelopmentCommittee, helping to bring theexceptional quality developmentthat our community enjoys today.His leadership and thoughtfulapproach to decision making willbe missed. Thank you, Trustee

Walker, for your dedicated service.

As we embark on the next fouryears, let us do so with the samecommunal volunteerism and government transparency that hassustained us in the past. We havechallenges, of that you can be sure.Administrator Jerry Ducay’s articlewithin this publication touches onconcerns regarding the future. We will work together to addressthese issues. As always, you, theresidents, will be a part of a publicprocess that seeks a collective voicewithin the decision-making process.We are most capable when wework together with the will anddetermination of all 20,000 of ourresidents. �

Mayor’s Message, cont. from page 1

A Tale of Two Cities, from page 1

climate while we prepare our community to meet future needshead-on. This summer we willadjust our utility billing rates tofund the much-needed consolida-tion of our wastewater treatmentplants. This process, more than twoyears in the making, will bring ourfacilities into state and federal compliance while assuring adequate service to our customersfor the next three decades. We mustalso seek out additional funding forroad maintenance. Doing so willassure that our local roads aremaintained to the appropriate level.We will need to be creative in finding additional funds to meetthis need while maintaining thehigh level of service that our residents have come to expect. Inthe near future we will begin aplanning process to address our


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future needs. You, the residents,will be an important part of thatdecision making process. Yourinput and direction regarding suchplanning endeavors will be at thevery core of our effort.

When given a choice, many wouldsurely choose to enjoy the splendorof the moment rather than agonizeover the needs of the future. Itcould be argued that we could simply do nothing and enjoy thefruits of our success while ignoringthe pending limitations that aresure to come – but that is not whowe are. We choose to join togetherto meet challenges head-on so that we may again enjoy the best of times. We do so as another beautiful springs of hope is uponus. �


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TO: POSTAL CUSTOMERFRANKFORT, IL 60423

432 W. NEBRASKA ST.FRANKFORT, IL 60423


villager the frankfort - vofil.com · by dr. jerry ducay,administrator ... what many people in the...

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