Lombard’s 2027 budget to hearing, leaf collection starts, Election Day Tuesday

Drivers heading through downtown Lombard on St. Charles Road this week will see crews from Miller Pipeline at work between North Lincoln Avenue and Main Street. Nicor Gas is installing a new gas main in that stretch, the village said in a community update posted Oct. 23.

The village reported that Nicor determined a new main was needed during other utility work this week. The project also includes replacing the gas service lines that connect the main to individual buildings. Miller Pipeline, a Nicor contractor, is expected to finish by Saturday, Nov. 21, weather permitting, according to the village.

Construction runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and crews may work Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Charles Road stays open to traffic, but drivers should expect temporary partial lane closures as the work moves along the corridor. On-street parking and sidewalk access may be restricted near active work areas, the village said.

Downtown businesses remain accessible. The village encourages people traveling through the area to allow extra time, follow posted signs and directions from crews, and use caution near the work zone.

The service-line replacements are scheduled for Nov. 16 through Nov. 21. Miller Pipeline will contact affected property owners to arrange a convenient time. Nicor has already mailed or delivered notices to the properties involved, and the utility and its contractor will communicate directly about scheduling and any temporary service interruptions.

This is a Nicor Gas project, not a village road job. The village is sharing the notice so residents, businesses and motorists know what to expect. Questions go to Nicor representative Mike Runge at mrunge@southernco.com or (224) 760-5385.

For neighbors who use St. Charles Road to reach the Metra station, shops or Village Hall, the coming weeks mean planning around the lane reductions. The gas main work is limited to the stretch between Lincoln Avenue and Main Street.

Separately, the village’s contractor, Gewalt Hamilton, is inspecting manholes and storm drain inlets along E. St. Charles Road, Western Avenue and St. Charles Place starting Tuesday, Oct. 27, weather permitting. The village expects that work to take about two weeks, with temporary lane closures but traffic kept open.

What comes next is the service-line phase in mid-November and the overall finish date of Nov. 21. Property owners who received notices can expect a call from Miller Pipeline to set the appointment for their building’s new service line.

Sources: Village of Lombard — Nicor Gas Main Installation to Begin Oct. 26 on St. Charles Road; Village of Lombard — manhole and storm drain inspections begin Oct. 27

Halloween arrives Saturday, October 31. The Village of Lombard recommends trick-or-treating between 3 and 7 p.m. Families are encouraged to enjoy the holiday safely and be respectful of neighbors who choose not to participate, the village said.

Residents handing out candy may turn on their porch lights to show they are participating. Those who prefer not to may leave the lights off or display the village’s downloadable “No Trick-or-Treating” sign near the front door. Printed copies of the sign are not available from the village. Trick-or-treaters should skip homes with porch lights off or the sign displayed.

The village lists safety reminders: stay with your group and visit only well-lit homes; use sidewalks and cross at intersections or crosswalks, looking both ways; never enter a home or vehicle for a treat; choose costumes easy for drivers to see and make sure masks do not obstruct vision; check candy before eating and discard unsealed or damaged items, considering choking hazards and allergies. Drivers should slow down, stay alert, and watch for children near roadways, especially as daylight fades. Report dangerous activity to the Lombard Police Department; call 9-1-1 for emergencies.

The Lombard Police Department is also reminding motorists to drive sober, buckle up and follow traffic laws this Halloween as children and families take to neighborhood streets. From Friday, October 23, through the morning of Monday, November 2, officers will conduct increased traffic enforcement to identify and stop impaired drivers. Those celebrating are encouraged to plan ahead for a safe, sober ride home.

“We want everyone to enjoy Halloween and get home safely,” said Police Lieutenant Manny Camuy in the department’s announcement. “With more children and families out in our neighborhoods, drivers need to slow down, pay attention and watch for pedestrians. And if your plans involve alcohol or cannabis, make sure you have a sober ride home.”

Driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or other drugs is illegal, the department notes. Although cannabis is legal for adults in Illinois, driving while impaired by it remains prohibited. Drivers and passengers are required by law to wear seat belts. The department lists tips: plan a safe way home before a party; designate a sober driver, use public transportation or a ride-sharing service, or ask a sober friend or family member for a ride; walking while impaired can also be dangerous, so arrange for a sober friend if needed; always wear a seat belt; report impaired driving as soon as it is safe; and if someone who is impaired is about to drive, take their keys and help them find a safe way home.

The next morning brings the seasonal clock change. As residents prepare to “fall back” and set their clocks back one hour for the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, November 1, the Lombard Fire Department reminds everyone to also check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replacing batteries and testing alarms when you change your clocks is an easy way to help keep your home and family safe throughout the year, the department said.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, nearly three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. The most common causes of alarm failure include missing or disconnected batteries, dead batteries, and disabled hardwired systems. The association recommends installing smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement; testing alarms monthly and replacing units more than 10 years old; interconnecting smoke alarms so when one sounds, they all do; and replacing any that fail to respond properly during testing.

The Illinois Smoke Detector Act, amended in 2022, requires most single- and multi-family homes that use battery-operated alarms to install models with 10-year sealed batteries. These eliminate the need for annual battery replacement. Exceptions include homes built after 1988 with hard-wired smoke alarms and homes equipped with wireless integrated alarms that use radio frequency communication, Wi-Fi, or other smart home technologies. For questions or home safety concerns, contact the Lombard Fire Prevention Bureau at (630) 620-5750.

After the weekend, free leaf collection begins Monday, November 2, and runs through December 11. Residents may place an unlimited number of biodegradable paper bags filled with leaves at the curb on their regular Waste Management collection day, with no yard waste stickers required for bags containing leaves only, the village said.

Sources: Village of Lombard — Halloween reminders; Village of Lombard — Drive sober this Halloween; Village of Lombard — Fall back and smoke alarms; Village of Lombard — Keep leaves away from storm drains

Disc golfers who head to Madison Meadow Park this fall will find the course closed. The Lombard Park District began renovating the park’s 18-hole disc golf course in early October, and the course will stay closed during construction, according to the district’s capital projects page.

Crews are installing new tee boxes and disc golf baskets throughout the course and revising the layout of select holes. The district also plans to plant more trees along the course to add new strategic elements for players. The work is expected to finish by the end of 2026.

Madison Meadow, at East Madison Street and South Ahrens Avenue, is one of the district’s largest parks at 91.7 acres. Besides the disc golf course, it holds the Madison Meadow Athletic Center, athletic fields, playgrounds, a skate park, garden plots, a boating and fishing pond, and a 1.56-mile walking trail, according to the park’s page. The district calls the course a popular suburban disc golf course.

The renovation is one of the district’s current capital projects. The district says it picks those projects by weighing the age and condition of existing assets, community input from master planning, available grants, health and safety needs, its ADA Transition Plan, and earlier capital plans. The other current project on the list is a renovation of the basketball and tennis courts at Lombard Common.

The district’s other disc golf course is a nine-hole course at Lombard Common, 433 E. St. Charles Road. That course is not part of the Madison Meadow project.

The district has not posted a detailed schedule or a cost for the work. When the course reopens, the district says, it will offer an improved experience for players of all skill levels. Updates will appear on the capital projects page.

Sources: Lombard Park District — Capital Projects; Lombard Park District — Madison Meadow; Lombard Park District — Lombard Common

Lombard’s annual Free Fall Leaf Collection Program starts Monday, Nov. 2, and runs through Friday, Dec. 11. For those six weeks, residents can put out an unlimited number of leaves without buying yard waste stickers.

To take part, put leaves in biodegradable paper yard waste bags and set them at the curb on your regular Waste Management collection day. Only leaves are accepted through the program — bags containing other yard waste will not be picked up, and leaves placed in cans do not count.

Brush is not included. It must still be bundled with non-plastic twine and have a yard waste sticker attached for collection.

The village also encourages composting: its Compost Bin Reimbursement Program offers eligible residents up to $80 toward the purchase of a compost bin. Full leaf, yard waste, and brush guidelines are at villageoflombard.org/yardwaste.

Source: Village of Lombard