Public Works
The structure of the Public Works Department provides for efficient, cooperative participation of six operating divisions: Street Maintenance, Engineering, Water & Sewer, Administration, Public Service and Fleet Operations.
With 9 personnel in the street division, 7 in the water division, 2 in the fleet maintenance and 1 in engineering, cumulatively, these divisions service more than 220 lane miles of streets, 30 miles of alleys, approximately 15,000 parkway trees, over 300 City owned vehicles and heavy equipment including police and fire department vehicles, 1100 fire hydrants, 116 miles of water main, 106 miles of sanitary sewer mains and 95 miles of storm sewer mains.
Potholes:
Potholes are holes in the roadway that vary in size and shape. They are caused by the expansion and contraction of ground water after the water has entered into the ground under the pavement. When water freezes it expands. If it has a chance to freeze it will take up more space under the pavement and the pavement will expand, bend and crack which weakens the material pavement.
Crews repair potholes in neighborhoods throughout the city all year long. The months of December through April are considered the heart of the pothole season—when the city typically sees the highest number of potholes. However, crews work throughout the spring, summer and fall as well.
During the cold winter months, high-performance cold-patch asphalt material is used for pothole repairs. This is a temporary repair. A hot mix asphalt is used during spring, summer and fall.
Please report potholes to the Street division at 847.746.4050.
Snow Plowing:
Priority One: Defined as arterials, collectors and emergency routes. These streets receive more frequent plowing and/or additional deicers applied, primarily due to heavier traffic volumes. Under most conditions, these streets are plowed curb to curb and deicers applied before priority two streets begin.
Priority Two: Residential, non-primary routes (includes cul-de-sacs) which typically do not have heavy traffic volumes. Generally cleared after the priority one streets are complete. Snow is plowed curb to curb.
Priority Three: Alleys are cleared toward the end of snow events.
No parking is allowed on city streets when 2 or more inches of snow is forecasted (or between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM year-round), or if 4 or more inches of snow has fallen.
Street Lights
For issues with a street light on wooden poles please contact ComEd at 1.800.334.7661.
For a street light on metal or concrete poles or in a newer sub-division call Public Works at 847.746.4050 or 847.746.4060.
Trees
Public Works is responsible for trimming all City owned parkway trees ONLY and for the removal of dead parkway trees. Property owners are responsible for private property maintenance and removal.
Water Main Breaks
Most water main breaks occur during the cold winter months. This is especially true if we get little or no snow to insulate the ground. If you spot a water main break please call us immediately at 847.746.4060. If after hours report the break to the Police department non-emergency number 847.872.8000.
Sanitary Sewers
The Department of Public Works strives to keep the City’s system of public sanitary sewer mains and sewer pumping stations in good working condition to provide reliable service to our customers. Despite our best efforts, however, it is not always possible to eliminate all problems or to prevent all sanitary sewer backup problems.
Any sanitary sewer backups should be reported to us before calling a plumber or contractor. The problem may be associated with the main sewer line. Call us at 847.746.4060 during regular working hours of 7:00 AM through 3:30 PM. The water division has a person on-call 24 hours a day. Should the backup occur after hours please call the non-emergency number at the Police department 847.872.8000 and they will get a hold of the on-call person.