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Congratulations to the 2012 Darien Citizens of the Year!
Robert & Charleen Vuillaume
Please join us for a Coffee & Cake Reception in their
honor on March 5th during the City Council
meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. The Citizen of the
Year banquet will be held on March 24th at Alpine
Banquets. Tickets are $30.00 each, and can be purchased
at Darien City Hall. For more information please call
Mary at 630-353-8102. |
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Electric Aggregation Ballot Question
The City of Darien has placed a referendum on the upcoming March
20th ballot allowing the City of Darien to solicit bids for the
purchase of power on the open energy market. The goal is
to reduce the electricity costs for residential homes and small
businesses.
Residential electric rates are set every May by ComEd. The
fixed rates are then in effect for 12 months. The City is
taking the necessary steps to have other electric suppliers
provide rate quotes to compete with ComEd. Even if the
power is purchased from another supplier, residents would not
notice a change as their billing would still be through ComEd.
The City of Darien has been purchasing its power for water
pumping and street lighting operations from suppliers other than
ComEd since 2007. These suppliers have been able to offer
lower rates than those we would have received from ComEd.
Municipalities are now able to receive bids from suppliers on
behalf of the entire community. If the rates are lower
than ComEd’s, the municipality can move all residential and
small business accounts in the city limits to the new supplier.
This is similar to how the City of Darien negotiates
advantageous pricing for refuse haulers, concrete driveway
repair, tree trimming, and gas lights. Before the
municipality can make this choice for electricity, the residents
need to approve a resolution on the March 20th ballot.
Even if the referendum passes, Darien is not obligated to switch
suppliers. The referendum simply gives the municipality
the right to solicit competitive bids. Once the bids are
received, then the City Council will decide if it is in the best
interest of the residents to move to the lower cost
supplier. Residents will have a few chances to opt-out of the
aggregation program, but must do so before the City service
begins. Residents will receive notice from ComEd informing them
of the opt-out period, who to contact, and how they must
communicate their intention to opt-out. If not, all
residents will remain with ComEd for the following 12 months.
For
more information please visit our website at
http://www.darien.il.us/Departments/Utilities/Utilities.html#ElectricAggregation
or call Scott at 630-353-8104.
Chicago Water Rate Increase
On January 1st, the City of Chicago and the DuPage Water
Commission increased the amount the City of Darien is charged
for water we receive from Lake Michigan by 34%. This is
only the first year of four annual increases by the City of
Chicago through 2015. Some communities increased their
water rate on January 1st to make up the difference for the
higher cost of water. The City of Darien will maintain
water rates at their current level until the water budget is
reviewed as part of budget meetings that began on February
22. The next budget year begins on May 1, 2012 and will
take these current and projected future increases into
consideration. If you would like more information please
call City Administrator Bryon Vana at 630-353-8114.
Next City Council
Meeting
The next city Council meeting will be on February 6th
at 7:30 p.m. The meeting may be viewed on DCTV channel 6.
City Meeting and Committee Agendas
The following links will direct you to the City Meeting and
Committee agendas and packet information on our website.
Stay informed on City issues and upcoming projects!
All Agendas:
City Council Meeting Agenda:
Last
Week to Recycle Your Holiday Lights!
Don't know what to do with the strands of Christmas lights that
are tangled, broken or have lost their glow? Don’t throw
them in the garbage - recycle them! The City of Darien has
partnered with Elgin Recycling to offer our residents free
recycling of holiday lights! All light colors and strand
lengths will be accepted. Items include mini-lights (Italian
lights), C7 lights, C9 lights, rope lights, LED lights, and
extension cords. Please - no CFLs. From
November 26th through February 10th you may bring your lights to
the Darien Police Department lobby at 1710 Plainfield Road
Monday thru Friday from 6am to 10pm, and Saturday & Sunday from
7am to 3pm. For more information please call 630-353-8115
or visit
www.elginrecycling.com
Darien Park District Flea Market
The Darien Park District will be host a Flea Market on Saturday,
February 4th, from 9am to 1pm at the Community Center
located at 7301 Fairview Avenue. Over 50 sellers – Free
admission! For more information please call 630-968-6400
Darien Community Blood Drive
The 2012 Darien Community Blood Drive will take place on Tuesday
February the 7th at the Lace School Gymnasium. The
Co-sponsors for this event are the Darien Lions Club, Our Lady
of Peace Catholic Church, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, the
Darien Woman’s Club and VFW Post 2838.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age, , in good health,
weigh at least 110 pounds, have an ID, and have not donated
blood for a minimum of 56 days.
Blood cannot be manufactured , and can only come from
volunteers. Every pint of blood donated is truly the gift of
life! All donations go to the Life Source Center and will be
distributed within the Seven County Greater Chicagoland Area.
2012 Creative Youth Art Fair—Call for Entries
Budding young artists, ages 4 through high school are invited to
submit their work for the Darien Woman’s Club Charity Fund, Inc.
annual Creative Youth Art Fair, set for Sunday, February 26th at
Eisenhower Junior High. The fair showcases artwork created by
children from Darien and the surrounding school districts in 6
different media categories. Registrations forms are
available on the DWC website:
www.darienwomansclub.org Forms must be completed
and postmarked by February 9th, or dropped off at the Indian
Prairie Library circulation desk by February 16th.
2012 Darien Vehicle Stickers are now available!
Vehicle stickers are not required in the City of Darien, but are
available for your convenience. The donation is $3.00 per
sticker, and this year all proceeds benefit the Historical
Society. Stickers are currently available at City Hall,
the Police Department and the Park District.
“Images of America: Darien”
The Darien Historical Society is supporting “Images of America:
Darien,” by Deborah Coulman, Debra Kieras, Mary Krekelberg &
Dean Rodkin. This book has both images and historical
accounts of the City of Darien. You can reserve your copy
by sending your name, telephone number, e-mail address and $22
to Dean Rodkin, 10 S 236 Birnam Trail, Willowbrook, Il. 60527.
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