Overview

The mission of the Public Works Department is to effectively deliver quality public works services to enhance the living and working environment of the community.

Structure

The Public Works Department consists of the Public Works Director, Assistant Director, Public Works Foreman, Sewer & Water Distribution Foreman, Public Works Secretary, 2 Water Plant Operators, Water Meter Technician, 2 Mechanics, 9 Maintenance Workers, 4 Public Works Laborers, and 1 Building Custodian who are responsible for the upkeep and operation of :

• 1 Municipal Center and Police Department
• 2 Fire Stations
• 3 Water Pumping Stations
• 4 Water Storage Tanks (3 Million Gallon Total Capacity)
• 54 Miles of Watermain
• 760 Watermain Valves
• 730 Fire Hydrants
• 4,252 Buffalo Boxes (B-boxes)
• 4,252 Water Meters
• 453,000 Feet of Public Sidewalk
• 50 Miles of Streets
• 5 Miles of Alleys
• 700 Streetlights
• Over 1,500 Street Name Signs and Traffic Signs
• 4 Signalized Traffic Intersections
• 3 Sewage Lift Stations
• 37 Miles of Sanitary Sewers
• 24 Miles of Storm Sewers
• 7 Miles of Creeks
• 13 Box Culverts
• 1,600 Storm Water Manholes, Inlets and Basins
• 1,277 Sanitary Manholes
• 4 Tornado Early Warning Sirens
• 20 Police Vehicles
• 17 Pieces of Fire Department Apparatus
• Over 40 Public Works Trucks, Vans, Cars, Tractors, and Endloaders
• Over 80 Pieces of Small Specialized Equipment (pumps, mowers, chainsaws, etc.)
• 10,000 Parkway Trees
• Municipal Yardwaste Compost/Recycling Center
• 2 Commuter Parking Lots

Hazel Crest Department of Public Works provides the following services of direct benefit to Village Residents:

Brush Pickup

Seasonal program conducted on a monthly basis between April and October of each year. Provides opportunity for residents to dispose of brush or tree branches. Some conditions apply – if you would like to view more on this program click here:  Brush Pick-Up Schedule Announced

Compost Facility The Village of Hazel Crest Public Works Department is one of the first communities to maintain a Yardwaste Compost Facility. Weather permitting the facility is open from April through November. Residents may bring any yardwaste to dispose of at the facility at no charge. Any Hazel Crest or East Hazel Crest resident with a valid Village sticker may use the facility. See also Leaf Composting.

Finished compost and wood chips are also available to residents free of charge. For more information on operating hours and conditions click here Click here for more information on operating hours and conditions and related informational links.

Parkway Tree Removal/Replacement

The Village of Hazel Crest is proud of its numerous Tree City Awards. The Department of Public Works maintains over 10,000 parkway trees. Hazardous, dying, diseased, or nuisance trees are removed from public parkways. Public Works crews will cut down the tree and remove the stump, all at no charge to the resident. The resident is responsible for re-landscaping the area on the parkway. In the fall of each year replacement trees are offered for purchase at a small wholesale price. Residents who have had a tree removed will automatically be offered the tree replacement brochure. If the tree is to be planted on the parkway, Public Works crews will deliver and plant the tree. If the resident desires to purchase the trees for their private property, crews will deliver the tree to the resident for planting. For more information or to download forms for tree removal or tree replacement click here.

50/50 Sidewalk Program

Conducted annually during the warmer months. Residents may have hazardous or deteriorated public sidewalk sections fronting their property replaced with the Village sharing the cost. The Village identifies sidewalk to be replaced, contacts property owner, secures contractor through competitive bids, arranges for work to be done, pays contractor and is reimbursed by resident for 50% of the cost. At the same time resident may have additional private work done, (such as service walks, driveways, etc.) and the contractor will perform this work at the same unit price obtained by the Village. To download a printable 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement form, click here.

Water Line Repair

Provided on an emergency basis. If water service line leak occurs between watermain and outside water shut-off (B-box) Village crews will make repairs, including any restoration at no cost to resident.

Water Meter Repairs

Village personnel will fix or replace malfunctioning or leaking water meters at no cost to resident (unless there is evidence of tampering or abuse).

Sewer Problems

Residents are encourage to call the Public Works Department first when there appears to be a blockage in their sewer line. Public Works personnel will check the main sewer to determine the blockage location. If the main sewer is blocked, Public Works crews will clear the block; a blockage in the resident’s service line is the resident’s responsibility. Public Works has a list of qualified plumbers who are licensed to work in the Village. For more information call 335-9600 ext. 200.

Flood Insurance Program

The Department of Public Works maintains local flood plain maps. If you would like to view these maps, please call 335-9600 ext. 200.

Hazel Crest participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available for all buildings, whether they are in a flood zone or not. Flood insurance covers direct losses caused by surface flooding, including a river overflowing its banks, and local drainage problems. For more information about the NFIP, call their toll-free number of 1-800-638-6620 or click here: NFIP

Street Maintenance Improvement Programs

The Village of Hazel Crest street maintenance improvement program consists of numerous categories of work intended to address a variety of maintenance considerations on a number of different pavement types, ages and conditions. These programs generally fall into four major forms of work, which either include preventative maintenance, rehabilitation, renovation, or reconstruction. The method selected to be utilized on individual portions or sections of streets are tailored to implement the most cost effective treatment to enhance and extend the useful life of the pavement. The physical and environmental forces at work on pavement in our geographical region are very dynamic. The need to maintain safety on our roadways during inclement weather, influencing the use of de-icing materials, compounded by other factors of nature, promote the deterioration of roadways. It is for these reasons that a comprehensive street maintenance program is employed annually by the Village. For more information on these programs contact the Public Works Department at 335-9600 ext. 200. Click here to view current road construction projects with alternate routes proposed.

Snow Removal

Streets are plowed when 2 inches or more snow falls. The goal is to keep the main arterial streets clear for traffic and emergency vehicles. The Village has a priority system for its over 50 miles of streets. Arterial and main streets are plowed in the first phase of snow removal. Residential streets, cul-de-sacs, alleys and dead ends are cleared in the second phase. To enhance accessibility to nearby side streets, Village crews plow at least one path through every residential street, cul-de-sac and alley for motorists. Crews return later for further snow removal cleanup. Parking is banned on all streets after a 2 inch accumulation of snowfall. The odd/even parking restriction goes in to effect for residents of the Hazel Crest Proper area. For information on parking restrictions during a snowfall call the Public Works Department at 335-9600 ext. 200.

The Public Works Department is not responsible for clearing all the roads located within the Village. The County Department plows Cook County roads such as Kedzie Avenue, 175th Street, and 167th Street. Illinois Department of Transportation maintains state roads such as Dixie Highway, Park Avenue.

Street Sweeping

Street sweeping is performed from early spring through early winter (weather permitting). Each subdivision within the Village is swept at least once each month with the sweeper following behind the brush pickup schedule by one week. Click here for Chicago area weather forecast.

Reporting Potholes & Missing Street Signs

If you wish to report a pothole or pavement defect, please call 335-9600 ext. 200 and provide a brief description of the pavement defect and approximate location by address or intersection.

If you observe a missing or damaged street sign please call 335-9600 ext. 200. Please provide us information on the type of sign that is missing or damaged and it approximate location by address or intersection.

Streetlights

If you wish to report a malfunctioning street light or alley light please call 335-9600 ext. 200 and give a location of the light out or if possible the pole number. This number can be found on the bottom portion of the pole. The Village of Hazel Crest is responsible for all streetlights and alley lights located on metal poles. Lights on wooden poles are the responsibility of Commonwealth Edison to maintain. To report a light out on a wooden pole please call 1-800-334-7661.

To maintain, repair and replace watermain, water services and fire hydrants as needed, and to upgrade and improve the distribution system. To install, repair, replace and test all water meters and take meter readings of all residential and commercial establishments within the Village. To maintain a 1 million gallon elevated water storage tank, 3 above ground water storage tanks, 3 water pumping stations with a capacity of over 3 million gallons. This includes all controls for monitoring the system. The Village of Hazel Crest is proud of its new state of the art S.C.A.D.A. computerized water-monitoring system. The water system facilities are monitored seven days a week, twenty four hours a day to provide fresh, safe potable drinking water to all residents and to provide adequate supplies for fire suppression control.

Other Important Phone Numbers and Information

J.U.L.I.E.

1-800-892-0123. Call this number first when you plan on doing any digging or re-landscaping. All member utility companies will locate their underground lines. This can save much frustration if an underground line goes through your property.

Cook County Mosquito Abatement

(708) 333-4120. Call this number to request spraying for mosquito control on private property and public property such as creeks, open land areas, etc. They can also provide information as to how to keep the mosquito problem minimized on your property.

Hazel Crest/Homewood Scavenger

(708) 798-1004. The Village does not provide garbage pickup. A private scavenger must be contracted with. The scavenger will allow residents to put out one large item (furniture, old appliances, etc) a month at no charge. For more information and pickup schedule call.

After Hours Emergencies

(708) 335-9640. If you have an emergency after hours, such as a sewer backup or a broken water pipe, please call the police department non-emergency number and the dispatcher will page an on-duty public works maintenance worker.

Place your recycle box at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on the same day as your garbage pick up.

Last Revised: June 27, 2004 02:29 PM