September 2012

September 2012
Status Report
Village
of
Elwood
Thanks to our residents...
Dear Neighbors,
I would like to thank all the residents who have taken the time to
become informed about the Inland Port study and proposals. During last
month’s village board meeting, residents filled Elwood School gym to hear
about this issue and voice their concerns.
Our Elwood and Jackson Township residents spoke with a clear
voice and made their views known. I believe that when we invest the time to
learn about an issue and speak our minds, we ensure our future and our
way of life.
For those who were unable to attend the meeting, the village’s presentation is available
on our village website. The presentation features suggestions and observations from Dr. Martin
E. Lipinski, a nationally recognized expert in intermodal freight transportation and safety. Dr.
Lipinski met with Elwood and a group of area municipalities to discuss the issues and devise real
solutions for our area. Whenever there’s new information to share on this subject, I’ll make sure
our residents are informed.
Established 1889
Sincerely,
William Offerman
401 E. Mississippi
Ave.
P.O. Box 435
Elwood, IL 60421
815-423-5011
villageofelwood.com
Planners seek advice for Intermodal Project
ELWOOD PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MAX BOSSO outlines
Elwood’s management of the CenterPoint intermodal freight facility
for representatives from the city of
Edgerton, Kansas. Edgerton is
currently planning an intermodal
project similar to Elwood’s successful operation.
Village President
William Offerman
Village Trustees
Doug Jenco
Francis “Bud” Jones
Don LaPaglia
Mary Matichak
Jasen Melahn
George Ruban
When planners for the City of
Edgerton, Kansas needed
advise about their upcoming
intermodal project, they decided it was worth the effort
to travel 500 miles to visit
Elwood. On August 22,
Edgerton’s City managers
and planning consultant met
with Public Works Director
Max Bosso and Village Administrator Nick Narducci to
learn about Elwood’s management of CenterPoint Intermodal. The team spent several hours learning about Elwood’s truck routes, permit
process, special service assessments and law enforcement procedures for the CenterPoint development. They
left with a better understanding of the challenges presented by such an operation and a
framework for meeting those
challenges.
REGISTER TO VOTE
Village Clerk
Pat Buchenau
Elwood Village Hall 401 E. Mississippi Ave.
Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE NOV. 6TH ELECTION IS TUESDAY, OCT. 9TH
Early Voting will be held at Elwood Village Hall
Monday, Oct.22 through Friday, Nov. 2
SOFTBALL FOR ALL
Teens and adults battled for bragging rights in the 2012 Community Softball Game on Sunday, September 9. The fun family game was part of the Elwood Community Days event, and the adults won by a
run. The score was 3-2.
Elwood School to host Superintendent Coffee
Elwood School District
#203 will be hosting a Superintendent Coffee on Saturday September 15th from
9:00 am to 10:00 am in the
school cafeteria. This is a
great opportunity for parents and any community
members to come and meet
the superintendent, administration, the principal and
a few Board of Education
members regarding any
school topics. Please come
and join us.
Electrical Aggregation
Letters concerning electrical aggregation were
sent this week, notifying residents that they
will have an opportunity to opt out of the program by Sept. 28. After that date, there is a
grace period for last-minute submissions.
Anyone with questions should contact Hugh
O’Hara at Will County Governmental League,
815-729-3535
Tumbling & Hip Hop Classes offered
A new session of classes at Elwood Village Hall will begin on Wednesday, October 3 in the Elwood Village
Hall Community Room, 401 E. Mississippi Avenue. The six-week session will run from Oct. 3 through November 14 (no class on Oct. 31). Cost for the six-class session is $30 per class. .
4:30-5:30 Hip Hop Class
5:30-6:30 Tumbling Class
Register on Oct. 3 before the start of class-Call 815-424-1093 to have your name placed on the class list
Dress Code: Cheer/athletic shorts, fitted shirt, athletic shoes (no jeans or jean shorts, no fashion tennis
shoes or skater shoes-these do not offer any support or flexibility for dancing or tumbling)
Elwood Children’s Garden
2012 Family Fall Fest
Family Fall Fest at the Children’s Garden: Sunday, October 7 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
The annual event features activities and projects from nature for children
Cost is $10 per child
Community volunteers are welcome. To volunteer, contact Kim at 815-478-4752.
Open House will honor Schweizer
Please join the
Elwood Fire Protection District at an
Open House
Honoring the retirement of
Trustee/President Ronald A. Schweizer
Serving the Fire District for over 52 years
Saturday, September 22, 2012
1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Elwood Fire Station
309 W. Mississippi Street
Elwood, Il 60421
Cake will be served
From the time of his
childhood, Ronald Schweizer
knew he would be an Elwood
firefighter. It was a Schweizer
family tradition: His father and
uncle were firemen, and the
Schweizer kids started helping
out at the fire house as soon as
they were old enough. They
would wash trucks and pitch in
wherever they could until the day
they were able to officially join
the department.
Ronald joined the Elwood
Volunteer Fire Department in
1960, when he was eighteen.
He’s been there ever since
(between 1962-66, his service in
the U.S. Navy took Schweizer
away for a little bit, but he always remained a member of the
firehouse.).
Over the years, Schweizer
saw countless changes to his beloved fire department. It evolved
from a local volunteer organization to a large fire district. In the
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early days, the fire house would
host pancake breakfasts and go
door-to-door to collect donations
in order to keep the department
running. In his 52 years, In 1970,
the firefighters were happy to see
$16,000 in their annual budget.
Today, as president of the Elwood Fire Protection District,
Schweizer oversees a budget of
$4.2 million.
In 1985, Schweizer was
both a captain on the fire crew
and a member of the fire district
board of directors. Forced to
make a choice between the two,
he gave up his place on the truck
and dedicated his time to the fire
district board of directors. He has
served the EFPD board for forty
years.
Having worked years of
fire calls, Schweizer’s knowledge
and perspective have helped
guide the fire district through unforeseen growth and change.
Twenty years ago, the board con-
structed the fire house on Mississippi Avenue. To many, it
seemed too large, but Schweizer
knew the board had to build for
the future. Today that structure is
fully used and appropriate for the
big job EFPD has to do.
Although modest in population, EFPD has a large and diverse industrial section. That obligation presents its own set of
challenges for the district.
Schweizer learned early
on that industrial situations are
unlike other fire calls. He remembers the petroleum explosion at People’s Gas as the hottest and most dangerous fire of
his career. Over the years, EFPD
has focused on equipment and is
now one of the best-equipped in
the country.
Schweitzer will retire to
Pennsylvania where his wife,
Catherine grew up. The couple
has two daughters who were
raised in Elwood.
Sep t e mb e r 2 0 1 2 St at u s R ep ort