Department of Public Works - Director Steve Weir, (815) 728-0535

The Department of Public Works provides the following services for our residents. Note that in some recently annexed subdivision, the roads remain private and these services will not be available until these private roads are accepted by the village.

• Road maintenance
• Snow and ice removal from public streets
• Maintenance of the municipal parks
• Bridge maintenance
• Maintenance of public buildings
• Street and traffic control signs
• Maintenance of village equipment
• Leaf removal

Leaf Removal Program & Leaf Burning Ordinance
The Village of Wonder Lake will be continuing the leaf removal program established 2 years ago. We initiated this program in an effort to improve air quality for the residents of Wonder Lake by reducing the amount of smoke generated during the leaf-burning season. We received positive feed back from Village residents and based on the greatly reduced amount of smoke, believe this program was very successful.

We cannot accurately predict when the leaves will fall but are committed to remove them for all Village residents participating in this free program. We expect to start sometime in late October and continue through mid-November. Crews will be out during the week and on weekends as manpower permits. Please note that this program will exist in subdivisions where the roads are owned by the village not in areas where the roads remain private. In those subdivisions with private roads money that would be expended for leaf pickup instead is being placed into their road fund to pay for future road improvement. However the village has recently approved a 1 time pickup for those subdivision with private roads to eliminate the need for burning leaves.

We are requesting that Village residents rake their LEAVES ONLY to the area between the trough of the ditch and the edge of the road for ease of pick up by Village crews. Avoid blocking culvert inlets and releases and do not put leaves on the roadway. Please ensure no rocks, bottles, bricks, branches or other debris are included with the leaves as these items may slow down the pickup process, or even damage the machines.

Other options include mulching leaves into your yard, flowerbeds and gardens or composting. Per Village ordinance, you are still allowed to burn your leaves on Friday and Saturday throughout the year as long as the fire is attended until extinguished & doused with water to prevent extended periods of smoldering. If you choose to burn, please keep fires away from the road surface.
Your patience and cooperation with this program is greatly appreciated.

Steve Weir, Public Works Director

WARNING: A citation requiring a mandatory court appearance can be issued for violation of the open burning ordinance & fines of up to $500 per incident can be levied.

Salt Caution
It is important to be aware that the effectiveness of road salt diminishes as the temperature falls.  The lower the temperature the less effective the salt becomes. Road salts effectiveness is also reduced during freezing rain, because it is washed off the pavement by traffic as the rain continues falling and freezing on impact.  In any weather when salt is spread, drive as if there was no salt at all.  Reduce your speed and allow plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

Mailbox Posts
With winter on its way, this would be a good time for residents to check their mailbox and post to be sure that they are sturdy and can handle the snow roll off from plows.  If repair or replacement is needed, please take the time to do so.  If your mailbox or post falls down in the winter months, the only thing that can be done is a temporary fix or mail delivery will be disrupted.

Mailboxes
If your roadside mailbox becomes a casualty of the Village of Wonder Lake’s war with the wintertime elements, the village will replace it only if damaged directly by a village owned and operated snowplow.  However if damage was caused by the windrow (wall of flying now) hurled by a passing plow, the village will not repair or replace it.

Sturdiness should be considered when you purchase and install your mailbox in a legal manor.  It should b able to withstand the force, weight, and sweep of snow flung by the passing plow.  Replacement of mailboxes damaged as a result of being struck by a village plow will be with a standard unit set on a Wolmanized 4X4 wooden post.

Please bear in mind, however that since the village crews are often frequently committed to several consecutive days of plowing and salting, downed mailboxes cannot be replaced immediately.  In that case you will have to pick up your mail at the post office until your box is back in place.

Equipment

We currently employ eight part time employees and the operation of the following equipment.

• 1991 John Deere Tractor (mower)
• 1993 Chevrolet 3500 dump truck with plow and salt spreader
• 1997 Chevrolet 7500 dump truck with plow and salt spreader
• 2000 Kubota L-3710 loader
• 2006 Chevrolet 3500 dump truck with plow

We have approximately 26 miles of roadway, which provide access to 525 homes within the village. 

The following is a list of utility providers

• Commonwealth Edison (electricity)
• Verizon (telephone)
• Comcast (cable television)
• Marengo Disposal (garbage)
• Village of Wonder Lake (water)
• NICOR (natural gas)