Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Going green’ Category

Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing and meeting this evening

Posted in Agendas, Aunt Blabby, ePacket agendas, Going green, Public Hearing, Village Attorney, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Zoning Board on March 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Our Zoning Board of Appeals will be holding public hearing this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

Public Hearing

Text Amendment – Definitions 5-2-1, Solar Energy Regulations 5-3-15, Energy System Removal 5-3-17
Solar Code Text Amendments.pdf

Public Meeting

[Vote] Text Amendment – Definitions 5-2-1, Solar Energy Regulations 5-3-15, Energy System Removal 5-3-17

Zoning Amendment Submission Discussion 

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Related: “Village updates Zoning services fee schedule”

Read Full Post »

Village updates Zoning services fee schedule

Posted in Aunt Blabby, FUBAR, Going green, Home Occupation Ordinance, Land Use, Plan Commission, Public Hearing, Real Estate, Roads & Bridges Committee, SNAFU, Transparency, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Code, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President, Zoning Board on February 27, 2025| 7 Comments »

Resident will now be assessed the actual costs of Zoning Board services rendered to fulfill their requests.

Monday evening the Village Board of Trustees approved updated fee schedules for, “Zoning Matters,” and overweight vehicles.

We applaud this move, especially considering it was revealed that at some point the Village ceased charging fees beyond only the standard application fees for Zoning Board services such as (and especially) attorney’s fees. While we believe our Village should not be operating for profit, it definitely should not be operating at a loss providing legal, consulting and other services at nearly no charges until now.

A partial section of the newly updated fees reads:

“Zoning Fee Schedule*

  • Appeal $1,000
  • Text Amendment, $1,500
  • Variation $1,000
  • Map Amendment-Any District-Permitted Uses Only $1,500
  • Special Uses $1,500.

*Additional Expense: The fee includes the initial review by staff and the village attorney, public notice (if applicable, 1 time), and Zoning Board Meeting (1 meeting); additional fees may be charged at the discretion of staff in the event an application is extensive, requires additional reviews beyond those stated or the application submitted in incomplete and requires multiple reviews.

Additionally, the Zoning Board of Appeals and/or the Village Board may utilize the services of professional consultants for research, investigation, and professional opinion, for assistance in arriving at recommendations or decisions.

The applicant whose request to the Zoning Board of Appeals or Village Board requires the use of such professional services shall reimburse the Village the reasonable cost it incurred for the services rendered by its consultants, within fourteen (14) days of transmission of the invoice by the Village or prior to the next meeting, whichever is sooner. The consultants shall bill for their services at the same hourly rate that they normally charge municipal clients. The Village consultants shall include but not be limited to the persons who provide the Village with advice in the fields of engineering, law, planning, traffic, design, and finance.”

The ordinance can be found here.

Editorial note: This Ordinance was approved by a vote of 4-2 with the Village President abstaining. When the meeting recordings are released, they will reveal one trustee who participated remotely was nearly hysterical apparently because she did not believe she had adequate time to conduct her usual “analysis paralysis” on the subject (always with little or no benefit) before voting.

Read Full Post »

Village Board of Trustees meet tonight

Posted in Agendas, Aunt Blabby, BACOG, Clown Car, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, ePacket Agendas, Ethics, Financial Reports, Goat Rodeo, Going green, Home Occupation Ordinance, Illinois State Board of Elections, Land Use, Legal Expenses, Lighting Ordinance, Minutes, Plan Commission, Police Pension Board, Police Reports, Politics, Privacy, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Roads & Bridges Committee, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Tree Preservation Ordinance, Unions, VBHPD, Village Attorney, Village Board, Village Clerk, Village Code, Village Director of Administration, Village Engineer, Village Government, Village President, Village Treasurer, Zoning Board on February 24, 2025| 1 Comment »

The Village Board of Trustees will be conducting their regular monthly meeting this evening beginning at 6:30 PM. Topics on their agenda include:

A copy of their agenda can be viewed and downloaded here.

Related to 5.4 & 10.1: “Zoning Board delivers third strike to Little Ducky Farm,” “Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing (AGAIN) tonight,” “News to us…,” “Village Board of Trustees meets tonight,” “’Agricultural Experience’ application meets a similar fate as ‘Agritourism’ did in August,” “Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing tonight,” “Village Board votes down ‘Agritourism as a Special Use’,” “August Board of Trustees meeting recording released,” “Sitting ducks,” “Special Zoning Board of Appeals meeting scheduled Tuesday”

Read Full Post »

Barrington Seed Library Reopens Tomorrow

Posted in Barrington Area Library, Going green, Topics Of Interest on January 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Barrington Area Library

“Seed Library Launch
Tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan 29
10 AM-1 PM (BALibrary cardholders only)
1-3 PM (Everyone)

Let’s get growing! It’s time to pick up your seeds for the new season. During the Seed Launch, Master Gardeners will be on hand throughout the day to answer questions and help you make your selections.

  • From 10 AM to 1 PM, seeds will be available only to Barrington Area Library cardholders.
  • From 1 PM to 3 PM, seeds will be available to everyone. 
  • Limit of two packets per variety per person present, unless otherwise noted.

After the Launch, the Seed Library will be available to everyone during normal Library hours. Seeds are free and available while supplies last. Produce seeds are organic and non-GMO.

Want to see which seeds will be available? Check out https://balibrary.org/garden.”

Click here for a downloadable list.

Read Full Post »

Applications open for The Land Conservancy’s summer internship program

Posted in County, Going green, McHenry on January 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County has opened its Conservation Leadership Internship Program to applicants for the summer of 2025, which will be the fourth year of the program.

The application period is open now through Tuesday, Feb. 4. Students can learn more and apply at conservemc.org/clip/.

CLIP is a paid, hands-on learning experience designed to give students the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the conservation field as a professional. No experience is needed to apply for CLIP, and it is open to high school juniors, seniors and college students. Participants must be able to work in extreme weather conditions and on adverse terrain.

The program takes place 40 hours per week from May-August 2025, and the pay is $15 per hour, or college credit.

The internship provides underserved communities such as women, BIPOC, first generation and LGBTQIA+ students/youth with hands-on professional training in the field of conservation.

Participants will gain experience areas such as: plant identification, land management, GIS/GPS training, prescribed fire training, herbicide use, rare plant monitoring, wildlife/stream surveys, sustainable farming techniques, land preservation techniques, field safety, scientific research/experimental design, art in the natural world, career development and professional networking.

These skills will give participants a strong understanding of the field of conservation and serve as a springboard for a professional career in the field.

A number of field trips and networking opportunities are available to those selected for the program, including Nachusa Grasslands, Indiana Dunes State Park, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Glacial Park and McHenry County College.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land. For information, visit conservemc.org. Follow instagram.com/conservemchenrycounty/

Read Full Post »

Learn to care for native plants and fight invasives in TLC’s free winter webinars

Posted in Education, Going green, Topics Of Interest on January 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Glenda Maki | The Land Conservancy of McHenry County

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is presenting a series of webinars on native plant gardening, just in time for spring.

All webinars are free; however, registration is required to participate. Participants will receive a recording of the webinar to view at a later date or to download. For more information or registration, visit ConserveMC.org.

Native Replacements for Invasive Shrubs

Many homeowners have inherited invasive landscaping that needs to be replaced, whether for ecological or aesthetic reasons. In this presentation, TLC’s Sarah Michehl uses her yard as a case study to show “before” photos of invasive shrubs and the “after” of native replacements to bring beauty and life back to your yard.

It will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15. It is free. Register by noon Monday, Jan. 13. The webinar link will be emailed in advance.

How to Care for Your Oak Woods:

McHenry County has lost 87% of its oaks since 1837, and we need you to help care for those that remain, as well as nurture the next generation of oaks. Join us to learn how to care for your oak woods as an entire habitat. This will include simple tricks on how to analyze your woods, identify and manage invasive species, plant natives, and let the sunshine in to encourage new oaks to grow!

It will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. It is free. Register at ConserveMC.org by noon Monday, Jan. 20. The webinar link will be emailed in advance.

Plan Your Native Plant Garden

Planning to start a new native plant garden this spring? This webinar will cover site preparation; favorite plant choices; the pollinator connection; and vital maintenance tips to make any garden a success.

It will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. It is free. Register at ConserveMC.org by noon Monday, Jan. 27. The webinar link will be emailed in advance.

Native Plants for Sunny Gardens

It’s winter, so let’s dream about native sun-loving prairie plants and how they can add beauty and function to your garden! They will share layering techniques and favorite combos for gardens large and small.

It will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12. It is free. Register at ConserveMC.org by noon Monday, Feb. 10. The webinar link will be emailed in advance.

Native Plants for Shade Gardens

Shade gardens can be filled with a beautiful diversity of native plants, from wildflowers to sedges and ferns. Get creative ideas on enhancing those shady areas of your yard while supporting pollinators and suppressing weed growth!

It will be offered from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb 19. It is free. Register at ConserveMC.org by noon Monday, Feb. 17. The webinar link will be emailed in advance.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.

Follow instagram.com/conservemchenrycounty/ or watch their informative videos on the YouTube channel.

Read Full Post »

Extension offers winter webinars on proper tree care techniques

Posted in Education, Going green, Topics Of Interest on January 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Jenna Braasch, Illinois Extension

Trees are essential to nature’s landscape and our daily lives. Understanding and providing proper and routine maintenance is important to ensure their best life and healthier urban forest. Communities with healthy, viable trees are more likely to be impacted through improved air quality, reduced stress, and added levels of personal comfort for many.

“Many who care for trees are not certified arborists but carry out similar work in their backyards or communities,” said Ryan Pankau, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. “Understanding and teaching proper tree care techniques to more people will help more trees in our communities thrive.”

Illinois Extension’s Community Tree Care Series is back and ready to help everyone learn how to support tree health in their local landscapes.

The hybrid series is a training opportunity for individuals performing tree care work and looking to build on their knowledge. Topics range from tree basics to identification, health assessment, and pruning techniques.

Participants include certified arborists as well as public and private tree care professionals, municipal or county groundskeeping staff, community volunteers, and anyone interested in expanding their tree care knowledge.

This training provides information and resources for communities to ensure proper tree care, minimize the risk of hazardous trees, and promote healthy community forests.

The hybrid model provides two forms of training, which offer online webinars and in-person workshops.

First are six winter webinar sessions from 9 to 10:30 a.m., spanning two Wednesdays a month from January through March.

Each webinar covers two main topics per date. The cost is $10 for general access to all sessions and $50 for those seeking Continued Education Units for access to all sessions. Registration is required, and individuals can attend one, some, or all sessions.

One hour of CEUs is available per session to Illinois Arborist Association certified arborists who qualify. During registration, specify attendance as a certified professional seeking CEUs.

Webinar topics include:

  • Site and Species Selection and Construction Damage on Jan. 15
  • Planting and Improper Practices on Jan. 29
  • Tree Identification and Health Assessment on Feb. 12
  • Abiotic and Biotic Stressors on Feb. 26
  • Pruning Methods and Benefits of Trees on March 12
  • Diversity and Advocacy and Choosing Nursery Stock on March 26

New this year — each webinar session will conclude with a discussion of tree health issues based on attendee-submitted photos. The activity will allow time for skill building, discussion, and learning from each other using relevant examples of things happening to trees throughout the state.

The second training opportunity includes in-person tree care workshops in fall 2025. The exact dates, locations, and registration will be available to participants following the webinar sessions.

The series is led by Illinois Extension horticulture educators Sarah Vogel, Emily Swihart, Ryan Pankau and Chris Enroth; forestry specialist Justin Vozzo; and program coordinator Jenny Lee.

To register, visit go.illinois.edu/TreeCareSeries. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Emily Swihart at eswihart@illinois.edu or (217) 333-1677. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

Read Full Post »

State Farm removing EV charging stations from parking decks

Posted in Going green, Public Safety, Topics Of Interest on October 9, 2024| Leave a Comment »

State Farm Insurance is removing electric vehicle charging stations from its parking decks at Corporate and Corporate South headquarters in Bloomington, and at its hubs throughout the nation.

By Charlie Schlenker | WGLT

State Farm is removing electric vehicle charging stations from its parking decks at Corporate and Corporate South headquarters in Bloomington, and at its hubs throughout the nation.

The move is effective as of Oct. 28, according to a message sent to company employees.

“While we understand the impact to those who rely on EV charging, it is our top priority to ensure a safe and secure working environment for our employees.” states the message. “Following an Enterprise Risk Assessment and evaluations conducted by local fire departments and workplace protection in each hub and corporate headquarters, fire risks were identified in the parking garages that cannot be mitigated at this time.”

The company told workers it will consider plans for “alternative charging locations outside of parking garages, including the possibility for EV parking.”

“Construction projects are being explored at corporate headquarters and the Illinois Operations Center to install EV chargers in available surface lots where fire safety risks to other vehicles and structures are minimized,” said the company in the message.

There are several studies that note fires in electric vehicles occur in the U.S. at a much lower rate than they do for gasoline-powered vehicles. The studies also record that when EV fires do happen, they tend to cost more than ones in gasoline-powered vehicles.

EV battery fires tend to burn hotter and may be more difficult to put out than standard vehicle fires.

State Farm is not saying much about the level of risk the company assesses and, in a statement requested by WGLT, the company largely repeated its message to workers.

Read more here.

Read Full Post »

Focus on fall planting and transplanting

Posted in Chicago Botanic Garden, Going green, Topics Of Interest on October 7, 2024| Leave a Comment »

It’s fall, which means it’s time to plant and replant perennials, trees and shrubs. Fall conditions, which include warm soil, moderate air temperature and rain, help plants reestablish their root systems. | Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

By Tim Johnson | Chicago Botanic Garden

I have been seeing more powdery mildew (a disease that causes a grayish, powdery film on leaves) in gardens. While this fungal disease is typical in late summer, there’s no need for concern this late in the growing season. Instead focus on fall planting and transplanting.

Common plants that can get powdery mildew are lilacs, phlox, bee balm, zinnias and nannyberry viburnum. Fungicides can help control powdery mildew if applied before the infection becomes severe but is generally not worth doing. It’s a good opportunity to consider replacing any plants prone to powdery mildew with more mildew-resistant varieties or moving the infected plants to an area of the garden that has better air circulation.

Fall is a great time for planting and transplanting perennials, trees and shrubs. In general, trees and shrubs do not need to be pruned when transplanted to compensate for loss of roots during transplanting. Fall conditions, which include warm soil, moderate air temperatures and rain, help plants reestablish their root systems. Evergreens benefit from planting early in the fall to minimize the chance of winter burn — foliage turns brown. Winter burn can occur if evergreens do not get established before winter sets in. Try to get them planted before mid-October and continue watering them weekly or as needed until the ground is frozen. They should not go into winter under stress from being too dry. Mulch is also important to install for fall plantings — use 2 to 3 inches of mulch for trees and shrubs and 1 to 2 inches for perennials and ground covers. It is best to keep the mulch away from the crown (base) of the plants.

Water any plants you are planning to transplant a couple days before you do the work if conditions are very dry. This will reduce stress on the plants.

Good soil preparation is important for successful planting. I prefer to amend the entire planting area or bed instead of individual planting holes. One can amend the surface soil around a new tree or shrub but it’s best not to amend the backfill. Evenly incorporate 2 to 3 inches of compost into existing garden soil.

Weeds can be sprayed in the fall with success if you are mindful of the weather. Herbicides are most effective when temperatures are consistently above 55 degrees and weeds are actively growing. Spot spray the weeds to minimize the amount of herbicide that you use.

Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.

Read Full Post »

Barrington Area Conservation Trust Earth Day 2024 Celebration

Posted in BACT, Entertainment, Fundraisers, Going green, Resident Spotlights, Topics Of Interest on September 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Join Barrington Area Conservation Trust at OaktoberFest 2024: Celebrating Animals in Conservation

The Barrington Area Conservation Trust (BACT) invites you to OaktoberFest 2024 on Sunday, October 6 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at BACT’s Far Field Nature Preserve, located on Old Sutton Road at the intersection of Old Sutton and County Line Road. This year’s event highlights “Animals in Conservation,” showcasing the vital role animals play in preserving ecosystems.

OaktoberFest offers activities for all ages, including:

  •   Oak Tree Planting – Help restore Far Field Nature Preserve to its pre-settlement vegetation.
  •   Seed Collection – Learn about native plants and collect seeds for future projects.
  •   Animal Ambassadors – Meet local animal ambassadors and learn how they are involved in conservation.
  •   Interactive Presentations – Explore topics like native tree canopy restoration, equine land management, and wildlife rehabilitation.

“OaktoberFest 2024 is a family-friendly event with nature-based activities for all ages. It’s a great opportunity to learn about endangered animals in northern Illinois, explore conservation-friendly livestock and equine practices, and discover how animals are used to combat invasive species.

Held at Far Field Nature Preserve, a beautiful property being restored from a former soybean field to its pre-settlement vegetation, we welcome you to join us,” said BACT Executive Director Meissa Kinast. “We also welcome corporate and individual sponsorships for this event, and volunteer hours are available for those interested in supporting our efforts.”

Event Details:

  •   Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
  •   Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
  •   Location: BACT’s Far Field Nature Preserve, Old Sutton Road at the intersection of Old Sutton and County Line Road.
  •   Admission: Free (Donations encouraged)

Corporate and individual sponsorships are available to support BACT’s mission. For sponsorship inquiries and general questions, contact us at events@bactrust.org.

To sign up as a volunteer or learn more, visit www.bactrust.org.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »