I live at Broadview and Meadow in Lombard. I’d like to know how long it takes to fix curbs and pave the street. It has been four months our street has been torn up. We need an answer. Thank you.

The Village of Lombard provided the following response:

“As part of the village’s Asphalt Patching and Paving Program, the village crews paved Cimarron, Glenwood and Meadow. While it might appear like a simple project, this is actually a village-wide program and is a major undertaking that requires a lot of schedule coordination and project planning. In an effort to ensure that the work is performed in the most cost-effective manner, the village contracts out certain project elements and uses in-house personnel for other items. The village’s contractor began the removal of curbs and driveway aprons on July 21, and completed the work, including the restoration of driveway aprons, on Aug. 21. The contractor removed and replaced approximately 770 linear feet of curb and removed and replaced approximately 700 square yards of asphalt driveway aprons as part of the project. Following the curb and apron work, the contractor began grinding the roadway on Sept. 9 and completed the grinding on Sept. 10. Following the grinding of the pavement, the contractor performed some additional edge grinding and structure adjusts for the manholes located within the roadway. The contractor placed leveling binder on all of the roadways on Sept. 14. Following the contractor’s work, village personnel began paving the roadways on Sept. 30 and completed the work on Oct. 1.

“The village understands the impact that construction activity can have on a neighborhood and thanks the residents in the area for their cooperation and patience. At no time during the construction was access to homes and driveways ever restricted, with the exception of the work on replacing impacting driveway aprons. Please contact the [Lombard] Public Works Department with any additional questions or visit the Construction News Page on the Village of Lombard Web site  at www.villageoflombard .org/constructionmap. Please sign up for e-mail notifications pertaining to specific projects that might impact you at www.villageoflombard.org/
notifyme.”—blm

* * *

OK, all you SPEAK OUT readers, I have a question about taxation. When you have an automobile and you bought it, you drove it for several years, until you’re ready to sell it, there is no special price put on it. But if you buy a house and a lot and live in it for many years, how can they keep reevaluating the property you’re living on? It’s not for sale. But every year, they raise the price on it seemingly just to get the taxes. This, to me is a big rip-off. Something has to be done some way, somehow, to stop this. They’re bleeding us to death with these taxes. Every time they want to spend money, raise the taxes.

* * *

I watch TV and hear the politicians say, Americans want this or Americans think that. In my opinion they do not know what we want or think. Look at the situation for millions of Americans. Our fellow citizens are suffering, homes being foreclosed. Why? Because we let the politicians get away with it. Yes, our fault. How many adults in this country? That is how many calls should be made to our representatives. We are failing our fellow citizens.

* * *

I am getting a little tired of residents complaining about teachers and their salaries. I have two daughters who are teachers and yes, they do work nine months out of the year, with three months’ vacation. But, has anybody ever thought what it’s like to control children of all ages in a classroom where some children are not very good at what they do? My daughters work at home, sometimes 17 or 18 hours a day, doing tests and quizzes for students, grading tests and quizzes for students, so all in all, if you want to complain about teachers, I suggest you sit in a classroom of first-graders or second-graders and see what a marvelous job all these teachers do.

* * *

In regard to the recent incident at the Helen Plum Library involving a retired police officer leaving a 9mm loaded gun in a conference room. Consider the possible consequences had that gun fallen into the wrong hands.

The story, “Employee finds handgun and ammunition at Helen Plum Library,” in the Oct. 28 issue of the Lombardian contained information from Lombard police and police reports which mistakenly indicated that a weapon was found by an employee at the library. A weapon was not found in a library conference room. A library security staff employee found an ammunition magazine (clip) and contacted police.—blm

* * *

This is directed to the caller last week who said teaching wasn’t a stressful job. My friend is a high school English teacher in Cook County. First of all, she doesn’t make $100,000 a year for nine months’ work. She earns less than $50,000 and also teaches summer school classes. And, don’t forget homework, prepping for classes and grading papers. The second misconception I’d like to clear up is that teachers don’t ever reach into their own pockets. She and many other teachers often buy books and other supplies for their classes. You also made the assumption that young people just do whatever the teacher says. It’s not so simple. Teachers are responsible for shaping young minds and finding strengths in children who struggle. If you don’t think there’s stress involved in being responsible for the livelihood and future of our youth, then I don’t know what to say.

* * *

The current weather conditions are excellent for running, but runners passing through Lombard on the Illinois Prairie Path aren’t able to use the water fountains that have been shut off. I was running on the path on Oct. 14. The water fountains at Main Street, Grace and Westmore-Meyers had all been turned off. Why? As of Oct. 17 the fountains on the path at Ardmore and Villa in Villa Park were still on. The fountain at the Glen Ellyn train station was also still on. Why does Lombard shut off its three fountains so early?

Your questions were forwarded to the Village of Lombard, which provided the following answer: “The Village of Lombard and the Lombard Park District share an intergovernmental agreement on the maintenance of the hydrants that supply water to the fountains along the regional trails, including the Illinois Prairie Path. As part of the agreement, the park district performs the shutdown of water fountains at the end of the season. As the temperature drops, the fountains are shut off to avoid damage to the internal mechanism of the fountains. At this time of year, as evening temperatures approach the mid-30 degree range, the risk of freezing and subsequent damage increases. Due to the low-flow nature of the fountains, they freeze easily and are expensive to repair. To help prevent unnecessary maintenance costs, the water fountains are shut off before freezing temperatures occur.”—blm

* * *

Cheers to the Village of Villa Park for keeping its three water fountains near the Prairie Path (by Harvard, Ardmore and Villa avenues) open through the end of October. Jeers to the Village of Lombard for shutting its water fountains near the path (by Main Street, Grace Street and Westmore-Meyers Road) off before the middle of October.

* * *

Hello, this is Lombard calling. Did anyone ask Mr. Hastert where he got the millions to pay the reported hush money? Thank you.

* * *

Hi, this is Villa Park calling in regard to a vehicle parked on my street for over a week with no license plate; same spot, not moved, called Villa Park police, nothing gets done. Thank you.

* * *

Hi, this is Lombard. I just wanted to make people aware of a scam that’s going on through the phone. People are calling and saying they’re from the IRS and they told me that I had been audited from 2008 to 2013 and that I owe them $3,967, and that if I don’t pay them right now, I will get arrested. It’s all a scam. I just want to make the seniors and others aware of this scam. If you look up the phone number on the Internet you will find out that many people have been getting the same scam happening to them. I just don’t want people to pay all that hard-earned money for nothing. Thank you. Have a good day.

* * *

Lombard calling. Hoping someone has a suggestion for repelling raccoons. They keep pooping in my yard and raccoon poop is toxic. I don’t have a fence all the way around my yard and I can’t afford to put one in. I can’t have a dog. I’ve tried ammonia, human hair and fox urine, but nothing works. Does anyone have something that works for them? Thanks.

* * *

Lombard calling. Thank you, Lombard Post Office for finally delivering mail on a Saturday. The problem is, three of the five pieces belong to my neighbor two doors away. Great job. Not.

* * *

Hello, Lombard. Saw your answer about the grocery store in downtown Lombard. Basically your seemingly lame excuse is that nobody else is doing anything, we’re not aware of anything but we’re not going to do anything. Gee, thanks from all of us Lombard residents. Why don’t you pretend it’s your precious little downtown area at Main and St. Charles or like Roosevelt Road or Butterfield Road, Yorktown? Pretend like that’s where it’s located and do a little work for the people.

* * *

I have a question I’m sure hoping you can answer. The question is about the utility easement between the houses. The utility easement where all the poles are, where the telephone wires, the cable wires, the electrical wires. I have two trees that grow rather underneath them. I know the electric company comes out and prunes the tree away from the electric, but these trees are starting to become overgrown. I was just wondering, is it the responsibility of the utility companies to take down these trees, or my responsibility, or if the village gets a payment for the easement on the property for the utilities. Is it the village’s responsibility to take down these trees? It would surely help me and I’m sure many others in finding out the answer. Thank you.

Your question was directed to the Village of Lombard, which provided the following response:

“For any trees that are growing on private property, the owner of the property is responsible to ensure that tree branches do not create issues that may cause disruptions in service. The village does not perform such work on private property. However, if the tree branches are near electrical transmission lines, trimming can be dangerous. Per their Web site, comed.com, Commonwealth Edison’s contractors are trained to work in close proximity to electrical conductors. Please contact them when planning to do tree trimming work near electrical conductors and they will advise you of options to work safely.  Commonwealth Edison performs routine tree and vegetation maintenance on four-year cycles. They also perform some mid-cycle work where trees are especially fast-growing, or there are other problems that may result in interruptions to electric service.  Additional questions can be directed to Commonwealth Edison at 800-334-7661.  

“The Village of Lombard is committed to providing residents with informative answers to their questions and encourages open communication. Residents may feel free to contact the village at any time with their questions or concerns at 630-620-5700 or visit the village Web site at www.villageoflombard.org. You can also learn about breaking news, construction projects, initiatives and events when you sign up for the village’s weekly e-mail newsletter at www.village oflombard.org/notifyme.”—blm

* * *

Yes, this is Lombard. The new postmistress is doing a wonderful job with decorating the lobby. Now, if she could only concentrate on getting my business mail into my post office box before noon, it would be a great deal of help. Love a pretty lobby but I really need my mail.

* * *

I have noticed that not only do I have different mail carriers to the point I don’t know who the regular one is, but I’m getting my mail at different times. Used to be when it was consistent, I’d know by when I needed to put out my outgoing mail because it was a late afternoon delivery. Not so anymore...I see the mail deposited at all different times of the early afternoon.

* * *

Villa Park asking about our water/trash bill. We used to get a postcard every couple months and paid the bill every couple months.  Now we get an envelope with full sheet(s) of paper and get this every month. This is costing Villa Park residents much more than previously due to materials, postage and processing the payments every month, rather than every couple months. What kind of savings is the village finding in excess mailings, materials, postage and labor? This has never been fully explained to residents.

Your inquiry was sent to the Village of Villa Park, which responded:

“The decision to move to monthly water billing earlier this year has saved the village and taxpayers more than $20,000. Previously, the village sent out six mailings every month then between bills sent late bills and shutoff notices. Consolidating this into a single monthly bill and outsourcing bill printing has allowed the village to leave a staff position vacant as well as improved residents’ ability to detect water leaks and budget monthly. Red Flag rules require the village use envelopes for customer privacy, but using envelopes also improves the village’s ability to distribute important information to residents such as our Recreation Survey and life-saving carbon monoxide safety information. Previously many residents complained the postcard mailings were lost. Possibly in the future, the Salt Creek Sanitary Sewer District will participate in monthly billing and allow their bill to be included within the same monthly envelope as the village’s. This billing consolidation would provide further savings for the taxpayers within Villa Park. In addition to the new billing format, residents can now receive e-bills and pay their bills online through www.invillapark.com, further reducing costs.”—JAC