A Conversation With Former Crystal Lake Police Chief

Following 32 years of dedicated service to the residents of Crystal Lake, David R. Linder retired as Police Chief for the City on December 28.

Chief Linder began his tenure with the Crystal Lake Police Department September 2, 1980. This was his first place of employment and he began in the patrol division.

In 1986 he began working in the detective division of the Crystal Lake Police Department and has served since 2005 as Chief of Police.

Linder says he hopes to spend time with his kids and wait on his wife. He explains he cannot thank her enough for allowing him to have his chosen career. He attributes his success to her help.

Linder did explain that attitudes have changed regarding how to handle situations involving people in emotional crisis. He emphasized that it is important to communicate at their level, whether children or adults.

He explained that we have gone beyond the years of using physical force to gain compliance as there are so many other tools now available.

An example of the care Chief Linder has for people – he was usually at the City Council meetings. Sometimes they adjourned in the late night hours. Chief Linder chose to escort myself and another lady who takes the minutes for the Council to the parking lot. The lot is lit, however, there are dark areas. The Chief always explained that he did not want someone to take advantage of us.

I felt honored that a police chief chose to protect me in case there was someone feeling the need to attempt to be a criminal.

It's Leaf Pickup Time

MDC Environmental Services will be responsible for the Annual Leaf Pick-Up Program. In Crystal Lake now underway and  through Friday, December 14, 2012,.

MDC crews will collect bagged leaves placed at the curbside in front of all residents’ homes along public streets. The bags must be placed on the parkway before 7:00 a.m. on the normal trash collection day. The Leaf Pick-Up Program is being offered at no additional fee.

Leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags in order to be collected. Paper leaf bags are available at local grocery and hardware stores. Neither the City nor MDC provides leaf bags.

There is a 50 pound maximum per bag. Be aware that wet leaves will add to the weight of the bag. Leaves placed in other containers such as plastic bags, garbage cans or boxes, or in bags too large for one person to handle, cannot be accepted.

Questions regarding the Leaf Pick-Up Program can be directed to MDC Environmental Services at (815) 568-7274 or the Crystal Lake Streets Division at (815) 356-3700 ext. 4019.

Crystal Lake Annual Leaf Pickup Program Begins Monday-Ends December 16

Beginning this year, MDC Environmental Services will be responsible for the annual leaf pick-up program. From October 3, 2011 through December 16, 2011, MDC crews will collect bagged leaves placed at the curbside in front of all residents’ homes along public streets. The bags must be placed on the parkway before 7:00 a.m. on the normal trash collection day. The Leaf Pick-Up Program is being offered at no additional fee.

Leaves must be placed in biodegradable paper bags in order to be collected. Paper leaf bags are available at local grocery and hardware stores. Neither the City nor MDC provides leaf bags.

There is a 50 pound maximum per bag. Be aware that wet leaves will add to the weight of the bag. Leaves placed in other containers such as plastic bags, garbage cans or boxes, or in bags too large for one person to handle, cannot be accepted.

Leaves in non-paper bags may be taken to the Brush Drop-Off site, located at Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2, at 1100 Coventry Lane (near the intersection of Dartmoor Drive and Coventry Lane), on the first and third Saturday of October and November from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At the Brush Drop-Off site, it is the residents’ responsibility to remove the leaves and brush from their vehicles. Any containers or bags used to transport the leaves and brush cannot be left at the site.

Questions regarding the Leaf Pick-Up Program can be directed to MDC Environmental Services at (815) 568-7274 or the Crystal Lake Street Division at (815) 356-3700 ext. 4019. 

Night Work On Part of Route 14 In Crystal Lake

Night work is also being done on Virginia Street Corridor in Crystal Lake. This is part of US Highway 14.

The night work is anticipated to begin Monday, July 18 from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. This work will include structure adjustments, milling and patching of the pavement area, and placing the new asphalt surface.

Excessive construction noise will be restricted after midnight between Linn Avenue and Crystal Lake Avenue. Work will continue during the daytime hours as well.

The City is asking for the continued patience of the motorists and those residing and living in the area. The construction project is anticipated to be completed by the middle of October. This overnight work will enable the contractor to meet this schedule and further minimize the duration of the construction disruption.

Questions, comments, or concerns regarding this project can be directed to the City’s Resident Engineer, Wayne Sieloff at 847-812-3238. City staff can also be reached at 815-356-3615 or via email at Engineering@CrystalLake.org with additional questions.

 To get an idea of how nice the area will be go to

Piles and Piles and Piles of Branches- Crystal Lake City Offers Help

 As a result of the high winds causing fallen branches and debris, the City of Crystal Lake Public Works Department will conduct a special branch and limb collection beginning on Monday, July 18. Crews will pass through each City street only once, so residents should have any brush, branches or tree limbs that they wish to be collected moved to the parkway by 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 18 to ensure that it will be picked up.

Also, the City will open the Brush Drop-Off center. Residents can drop off brush, branches or tree limbs at Wastewater Treatment Plant #2, located at the intersection of Coventry Lane and Dartmoor Drive during the following times:

Tuesday, July 12 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 13 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 14 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Friday, July 15 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 16 – 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m

Crystal Lake Rain Garden Planting Event--Monday Afternoon At Grant Street Municipal Parking Lot

A Community Rain Garden is under development at the Crystal Lake Grant Street Municipal Parking Lot, Downtown Crystal Lake. It is nearing completion and will be capped of with a planting event on Monday, May 9, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Crystal Lake Municipal Complex, 100 W. Woodstock Street.

Volunteers will be assisting City Staff in planting wildflowers for this demonstration project to promote sustainable infrastructure, which follows the first municipal bioswale installed at the Grant Street Parking lot last year.

The rain garden is comprised of a shallow depression, filled with native wildflowers, designed to allow water from the rooftop of the City's Municipal Complex to soak into the ground, as opposed to flowing directly into the storm sewer system and out into Crystal Creek.

The deep root systems of native wildflowers help promote the infiltration of rain into the ground, which benefits our local aquifers that supply the drinking water for most of the County.

It is the City's hope that this rain garden will help demonstrate another environmentally friendly way for homeowners and developers to help preserve natural resources like groundwater. This is also an example of the Best Management Practices being promoted by the City to help protect the Crystal Lake Watershed and the quality of water reaching the lake.

The garden is the result of extensive coordination from volunteers including:

• The Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee
• Hey and Associates
• Hughes &U Son Signs
• The Clean Air Counts Committee
• Girl Scout Troop #1054
• Crystal Lake Engineering & Building Department
• Crystal Lake Public Works Department

Crystal Lake Residents Asked Not to Operate Motor Vehicles Today

The City of Crystal Lake is urging residents to stay home and not operate a motor vehicle as storm clean-up efforts continue throughout the City.

City staff is working diligently to keep arterial and collector roads open, as well as clean residential roads throughout the City.  Additionally, City staff is working hard to maintain essential City services, including Fire Rescue, Police and public Works operations.

City Hall is closed today for all non-emergency personnel and business.

In the event of an emergency, residents are reminded to call 9-1-1.

"Baby, It's Cold Outside. . . ."

And it may affect more than our comfort when we are outside.

Due to the extreme cold that the area experiences during the winter months, frost covering the City is able to penetrate deeper into the ground and reach some water service lines. When the frost reaches these depths, it is able to freeze the water and service lines, which can prevent residents from having access to water.

A frozen service line can be costly to homeowners who must then call a plumber to thaw their exterior service line. Residents who have experienced this problem in the past may be at risk again. The City urges these residents to turn on one faucet in their home and leave it running at a trickle, with the water stream no wider than a pencil. This will allow the water to flow through the pipes, which will prevent it from freezing. In extreme cases, if frozen exterior service lines are left untreated, they can cause pipes to burst in a residential home.

This problem is particularly prevalent in vacant homes that have not had their pipes properly winterized. By allowing the home's plumbing to remain active while not heating the home, the property owner is taking a significant risk that the pipes will not freeze. Proper precautions must be taken in these dwellings to ensure the integrity of the unit's plumbing system.

If a resident experiences a water outage caused by freezing pipes, they should contact the Public Works Department at 815-356-3614.

Observing Government At Work

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13
8:15 AM -- Human Resources Committee of the McHenry County Board meets in the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock. The agenda indicates consideration of a number of resolutions including several for workers compensation claim settlements; acceptance of a $25,000 Illinois Department of Public Health grant to be combined with a $45,000 budget transfer providing for a full-time position in the dental health clinic.

Another IDPH grant being considered is $388,410 to help offset the cost of Breast and Cervical Cancer screenings for McHenry County's low income women. The committee is to consider acceptance of the grant and also use of county revenues to cover the additional needed funds.

9:30 AM – McHenry County Transportation Committee plans to meet at 9:30 AM or immediately following the Human Resources Committee meeting. This is primarily regarding the acquisition of property and is to be in executive session

7:00 PM -- Crystal Lake Ad Hoc Clean Air Advisory Committee.
Meets in the Crystal Lake City Council Chambers.
A number of updates on matters are in the agenda including a draft bicycle and pedestrian facility master plan; safe routes to school and I Go Car Shopping.

A number of other topics are also on the agenda including Bike With Neighbors Event, No Idling at Schools, Safer Pest Control Project, and a Recyle Bank.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
8:30 AM -- Management Services Committee of the County Board meets in the County Board room of the County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

The Committee is to view a presentation regarding purchasing ordinance-apprenticeship and training program as presented by a representative of Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting.

Additionally, a couple resolutions authorizing Workers' Compensation Claim Settlements are being presented for consideration; a resolution authorizing the remodeling of the former Regional Superintendent of Education office which is to be utilized by the Planning and Development Department.

9:30 AM – The County Board Finance and Audit Committee meets in the Administration Building. That agenda also includes Workers' Compensation Claim Settlements for consideration. Also to be considered is the acceptance of a $1,250 National Trust for Historic Preservation Grant for a Heritage Grove Program. This has been in the process for the last several years.

Funding for various Senior Programs is to be considered by the committee. These are programs involving transportation, volunteer services for seniors, mental health care, dental program, senior care, legal services, and nutritional meals for seniors. Funding for these programs is covered through the successful passage of 2003 referendum.

3:00 PM -- Crystal Lake Park District Planning Committee will leave the Crystal Lake Administrative Offices for a visit to Barrington and Palatine Park District facilities.

6:30 PM – District 155 Boundary and Enrollment Committee will meet in the Board Room, at the Administration Office, One South Virginia Road, Crystal Lake. An update on the Ridgefield boundary is to be considered along with recommendations for changes and also community meetings.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 –
8:30 AM – The Planning and Development Committee of the County Board is meeting in the Administrative Building of the County Government Center, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock.

A request for another extension of the tentative plat for Twin Creeks due to the current economic situation causing a lack of demand for the housing product proposed. Other agencies involved in this have approved the requested extension.

A request has been received from the McHenry County Islamic Center for waiver of fees for their building, planned for location at 5008 E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake.

2:00 PM – McHenry County College Plan Committee meets in the Board Room to review the current plan.

Historic Preservation In Crystal Lake

The Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission meeting scheduled this evening at 7:30 pm in the Crystal Lake Municipal Complex is cancelled.