Sunday, May 12, 2013
Share your favorite pictures from the community; click the green “Upload Photos and Videos” button.
Des Plaines’ extensive streetscape projects continue to develop along Miner Street. The new curbs, sidewalks, outdoor furniture and more are expected to be under construction until the fall, according to the City of Des Plaines. Jose Marquez and Miguel Ornelas, of LoRusso Construction, recently worked on excavating soil and rock to prepare the area for planting trees. Des Plaines budgeted approximately $2.8 million for streetscape construction work in 2013, which is part of a total $13.2 million budgeted for infrastructure improvements this year. Click here to see the tentative construction schedule published by the City of Des Plaines. Related: Check out all the photos of the day, the last one was of a local fishing hole.
Monday, April 8, 2013
New curbs, gutters, outdoor furniture and more is planned for the Miner Street area in 2013.
Construction on downtown Des Plaines’ curb appeal broke ground last week, and the city published a tentative schedule to let residents know what to expect in the coming months. The downtown Des Plaines streetscape project, which includes new curbs, gutters, outdoor furniture, planters and more, is expected to continue until Oct. 1, according to an announcement from the Public Works and Engineering Department. For more pictures and information, check out this announcement from Des Plaines posted in Patch’s Local Voices section. Des Plaines budgeted approximately $2.8 million for streetscape construction work in 2013, which is part of a total $13.2 million budgeted for infrastructure improvements this year. Below is the tentative …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The City of Des Plaines uses a beet juice mixture to wet down streets before a heavy snowfall, which prevents the snow from tightly binding to the surface, public works employees said.
When it comes to clearing the roadways after a heavy snowfall, the large snowplows are the most obvious solution. But in many municipalities, including Des Plaines, assistance is being provided in a much more subtle way, one that is commonplace among experts, but you may not be aware of — beet juice. In a process known as pre-wetting, a liquid mixture of beet juice and calcium chloride is applied to road surfaces to make snow removal more efficient, according to Tim Ridder, assistant director of public works and engineering in Des Plaines. “What that does is it keeps the snow from binding to the pavement,” Ridder said. “The biggest issue with snow removal is snow binding to the pavement.” The beet juice mixture was applied to the roadway …
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Des Plaines residents may recycle Christmas trees with regular trash collections through Jan. 8 and may recycle holiday lights at public works through February, the city announced.
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Thursday, January 3
The following information was submitted by the City of Des Plaines Public Works and Engineering Department. Holiday Tree Recycling Holiday trees from throughout the City will be collected by Public Works and Engineering through Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, weather permitting. Bare holiday trees — no decorations, lights, tinsel, or plastic bags — must be at the curbside before 7 a.m. ARC Disposal & Recycling/Republic Services, (847) 981-0091, will collect remaining trees the following week. Holiday Light Recycling The Public Works & Engineering Department will host a free holiday light recycling event throughout January and February. The lights will be recycled for the copper and plastic materials. Lights that will be accepted include C7 and C9 …
Friday, May 25, 2012
Bishop Plumbing received eight complaints since 2008, filed with the Consumer Protection Commission.
A bid for a contract worth nearly $200,000 to replace plumbing in city hall was approved by city council, 5-3, this month despite concerns voiced by aldermen. Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman said at the May 7 meeting that he did not support Bishop Plumbing’s bid because the Consumer Protection Commission had received several complaints about the company. The commission serves as an alternative dispute resolution, like a mediator, for residents and businesses. "I can't vote for them to work in city hall," Brookman said. Brian Wilk, vice president of Bishop Plumbing, said he was aware of four complaints in 2010 and 2011. “All four complaints have been satisfied with the [Consumer Protection Commission],” Wilk said. “Both parties have been…
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Four flooding analyses to guide improvements next year in Des Plaines.
Several areas of the city will be recommended for infrastructure improvements to address flooding, including increasing the sizes of storm sewers, after four studies are completed this year. Aldermen approved the latest of the flood studies to look at the Craig Manor subdivision near the park on Des Plaines’ north side at a council meeting on May 7. Other studies have looked at The Villas off Algonquin Road and the intersection of Forest Ave. and Earl Drive. Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. is completing the four studies, approved by the city in August. The work will cost Des Plaines about $50,000. Earlier: Gaming tax revenue planned for flood control, debt reduction. Last year the area experienced a series of severe thunderstorms …
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Annually, $525K spent on road salt and overtime snow removal wages.
December, 2011 was the 15th warmest December on record with an average temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service. The City of Des Plaines spent about $40,000 less on snow removal in December 2011 than the previous December, said Tim Oakley, director of public works and engineering. Earlier: Click to read what a meteorologist had to say about the mild December of 2011. Snow removal workers didn’t have any snow to plow in December, but did have to salt the roads on three different occasions, Oakley said. Workers don’t plow if there is two inches of snow or less. Des Plaines had 16 inches of snow in December 2010 and workers had to go out more than 10 times to clear the roads and put down salt. Although …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Applications are due Friday. Residents can enter online.
Des Plaines is giving out free rain barrels by lottery, and the deadline to enter to win is Friday. Click here to enter online. The 98 terra cotta colored rain barrels were purchased from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago with a $5,000 sustainability grant, according to Jon Duddles, assistant director of public works and engineering. Residents must enter to win, and only one barrel will be granted to each household, according to a press release. Winners will be notified the week of Nov. 7, and the rain barrels can be picked up at the Public Works and Engineering Department, 1111 Joseph J. Schwab (Campground) Road. Earlier: Patch’s storm coverage. Duddles said this is the first them the city has had the program…
Laura Wagner
3:56 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
But WHY does the beet juice prevent snow and ice from bonding with the pavement? And why beet juice particularly, instead of some other fruit or vegetable juice? Is it cheaper? more ›