Phone Scams
 NO  Village entity raises funds over the phone

Residents Beware,

   River Grove Fire Chief Larry LaRiviere has become aware of recent telephone solicitations from a group that calls it self the “Illinois Association of Disabled and Retired Firefighters. The callers have claimed that any donations will directly benefit the home community.
   Chief LaRiviere wants to make it perfectly clear that the River Grove Fire Dept. is in NO WAY connected to, nor endorses this solicitation and recommends extreme caution when considering any response to phone solicitations. If you have any questions about any organization or callers that claim an affiliation to the fire service, call Chief LaRiviere at the fire department before doing anything (708-453-1429).

Protect yourself from fraud:

• Never give credit card numbers, social security numbers or any other personal information if you did not initiate the call.
• Ask for the name, address and phone number of the caller. Check them out with the Village, Better Business Bureau or research them on the internet.

  From ComEd

If you've got an older, working second refrigerator or freezer keeping your soda pop or ice cream cold, chances are it’s an energy hog. In fact, most second refrigerators or freezers are 15 years or older and use up to 5 times more electricity than newer models. That means you could be wasting as much as $150 a year in electricity!

To qualify, you must be a ComEd residential delivery services customer, and your fridge or freezer must meet these minimum requirements:

• Between 10 and 30 cubic feet in size.
• Empty and working at the time of pick-up.
• Accessible with a clear path for removal by contractor*.

So get rid of these old inefficient appliances - and the costs that go with them. Enroll online or call us to schedule a pick-up at 1-888-806-2273.

Street Light Maintenance Use ComED's convenient online service to report a street light outage. To report a problem, just complete the  form by clicking the link below:
Residential - Street Light Maintenance Request

Are You Unemployed Due to a Recent Layoff?

You May be Eligible for Free Tuition at Triton College

Triton College has received $1.6 million funding for training programs funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These funds are awarded through POET from the U.S. Department of Labor and are managed as part of the Workforce Investment Act.
   The funding allows Triton to provide training to dislocated workers and assist with their placement in sustainable wage employment upon completion of their training period. Both credit and noncredit certificate programs are represented in the menu of training programs available. Training programs are available in health, technology, hospitality, and green jobs. Participant assessment will help applicants identify training areas that align with their needs and career interests. All participants will receive training in Microsoft Office programs, as computer literacy is an increasing requirement in the workplace. All participants will also be assessed for and receive the National Career Readiness Certificate. This is an employability certificate that demonstrates to prospective employers the participant's competence-level in work-related core areas.For more information, please call the Triton College
TRAC Office at 708 456-0300, Ext. 3331.

14 Years and counting!   RIVER GROVE DESIGNATED  “Tree City USA”

This honor was once again given to the Village River Grove by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the care and planting of our public trees. Credit for this award goes to the Beautification Committee’s leadership, the sweat of the Public Works Department, and the continued support of our Village Board.

The “Tree City USA” flag will continue to fly proudly at the gazebo!

        Is Here !!!

You can now make payments  to the Village of River Grove via E-PAY by clicking on the logo.

E-Pay is a safe and secure electronic payment program that allows you to pay bills 24 hours a day, seven days a week without leaving your home. Agencies that offer E-Pay may accept credit cards, bank cards and/or electronic checks over the counter, online or by phone. The service is provided by the State Treasurer's Office free-of-charge .

Bills accepted:
Utility Bill - Parking Ticket -  Ordinance -
Violations-C Ticket No Court Appearance

Need more information?
Visit   E-PAY  FAQ's

Confused About Holiday Garbage Pick-up Day?
With a few exceptions, garbage pick-up for all single-family homes in River Grove is on Mondays.  However, by our haulers union rules, if any of  the following holidays falls on a Monday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, or New Years Day, the pick-up day is pushed back to Tuesday.

How’s Your Can?
If you have a problem with a cracked lid or broken wheel on your 96-gallon brown garbage can, call the Roy Strom Company at (708)344-5000. These garbage cans are leased from Strom and will be repaired or replaced if necessary within a ten-day period by Strom.

YARD WASTE  Yard waste pick-up will resume on Monday, April 5th.

REMINDER: Leaves are not to be raked into the street. (This law is enforced to keep our street storm sewers clear.)  Leaves must be put into your “red X” yard waste cans, biodegradable yard waste bags (no plastic bags), or you can drop them off  for free on weekends at the Public Works Yard, 8300 Center St. The Yard will be open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM to 4 PM, from October 24^th to November 29th for those residents wishing to drop off leaves.  *All garden waste (tomato vines, plants) must be put into yard waste containers, not in piles on the ground.

STREET SWEEPING  By ordinance, the parking restriction for this program stops December 1^st and resumes April 1^st.  The sweeper will continue rounds if needed and weather permitting.  All village alleys are swept in the off-season.

During the summer months the Water Department will be cleaning and televising main sewers and cleaning street and alley sewer basins. In the past we have discovered motor oil being poured into sewer basins in some areas. This causes clogged up sewers and hampers runoff, causing sewer backups in your home. However the more serious problem occurs when that water is treated and returned to our rivers. This water is eventually used as drinking water downstream. There are very serious fines imposed not only by Village ordinance, but also by State and Federal EPA laws. Please call Public Works at 708-452-7055 to find out how to dispose of waste oil.

REMINDER FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT:

To All Commercial Building Owners
Have you had your backflow prevention device tested this year? A federal mandate issued to protect public water systems from contamination is the installation of backflow prevention devices where needed. Our village program includes all commercial buildings and all apartments over six flats. These devices should be inspected annually by an authorized plumber and results sent to the Village. This ordinance will be enforced.  

Would you like An Indoor Pool? 
Water pipes can freeze and burst from the cold. Is your home water system ready for that cold weather? Just a reminder from the Water Department to make sure all exterior wall pipes are insulated or have exposure to heat and not hidden behind that new remodeling job. This also includes water and drain pipes located in crawl spaces. In prolonged sub-zero weather it is recommended to have water trickle from a faucet as running water will not freeze. 

Attention Pet Owners

Please remember to:
Clean up animal waste in your yard in a timely manner.
When walking your dog on public property, clean up waste immediately.
Leash your dog or cat when it is out of your yard.
Make sure all pets have current shots, proper identification, and a village issued animal tag.

If your dog is in your yard make sure there is fresh water and plenty of shade.  Do not leave a dog outside if you are not at home. 
Please be kind to your neighbors – don’t let your dog bark uncontrollably.

Important Ordinances to Remember

Motor Driven or Electric Cycles & Scooters
Dangerous or Vicious Animals
Commercial Vehicles
Fire Pits
Pets

Violation of any Village ordinance can result in a fine.
You can find copies of these ordinances in their entirety at the Village Administrative Office. or you may view them on the Police Department Page by clicking here Ordinances

CO DETECTOR PROGRAM

Mayor May and Citizens for May anticipate the launching of a CO Detector Program which is an expansion of the Smoke Detector Program initiated in 2001.  Under the program, qualified residents may request that the Fire Department install a CO Detector in appropriate and required locations in their residence.  The Fire Department will replace batteries at appropriate times of the year upon request.  Although Illinois law now mandates that all residential properties have properly installed CO detectors, if you have not installed the detectors, Mayor May and Citizens for May encourage you to participate in this program for your family’s personal safety.  All requested installations will be scheduled in the order received and will be dependent upon delivery of the CO detectors ordered by the Fire Department.

River Grove Building Department

We realize what an expense and often complicated procedure a remodeling or new construction project can be, so we want you to know we are available to help you. A simple phone call to 708-453-8007 will connect you to the Building Department where questions can be answered regarding building codes, permits, zoning and contractors.

Permits must be obtained for any work exceeding $100 in value except painting, decorating or landscaping. All contractors involved must have a River Grove business license for your project.

The River Grove Building Department works to protect the public health, safety and welfare in all new and existing structures. The Department strives to enforce life safety standards by reviewing building plans, issuing building permits and inspecting buildings during various stages of construction.

Obtaining a building permit is an IMPORTANT safety step. The permit process allows the building department to reduce potential hazards of unsafe construction, ensure that building codes are met and appropriate materials are used. Remember to apply for a permit before starting construction or remodeling work.

If you are uncertain about permit requirements for your project, please call the Building Department at 708-453-8007.

                                                                                     Jim Duffy,
Building Commissioner

To Read about these Departments 
please click on their name and you will be taken to their web page