2021 Spring
From the desk of Commissioner Del Mar:
The services Palatine Township Road District (PTRD) and every governmental body for that matter provides to you are not free. As you know, services are paid through property taxes which are listed on your annual property tax statement from the Cook County Assessor’s Office. To keep tax burdens low, local governmental agencies need to reduce their levies. As Highway Commissioner of Palatine Township, we can help to reduce your taxes by levying or asking for less money, which we have done this year. Our portion of the tax burden is further split as we receive approximately half the amount. The other half is returned to local municipalities to fund their own road improvement and maintenance programs. Such programs include patching, crack sealing, resurfacing and complete restoration of neighborhood roadways. Included are capital costs for new equipment and vehicles to maintain these roadways. It is also important to note, like surrounding municipalities we have an excellent staff of experienced employees that are well qualified to maintain your infrastructure needs and through prudent spending we have been able to do so effectively.
During this third, exponential wave of the corona virus disease (CoVid-19) pandemic, PTRD continues to monitor the current data and mitigation response. PTRD shall remain open and staffed to serve the community’s infrastructure needs, in fact we have implemented secondary plans and back up responses. First, we expanded the radius of support by joining the Illinois public works mutual aid network (IPWMAN). This will allow PTRD to reach to other public work agencies during emergencies for aid and to provide aid. Locally, we have discussed with the Village of Palatine to share administration knowledge and maintenance work force in case of absences or quarantines. Additionally, in an effort to maintain the current level of service during the winter season, we have contracted with a local contractor to supplement any snow and ice control operations.
As winter looms heavy over us, we continue to monitor weather conditions and apply the best technique to combat inclement weather. For instance, on a bright sunny, cold morning you may see our trucks anti-icing the roadways with a salt brine before a winter storm comes thru later that day. This pre-treatment forms a barrier between the roadway and frozen precipitation, preventing an icy bond to form between the two. We began making our own salt brine used for anti‐icing efforts and pre‐wetting procedures, to cut distribution costs. Salt brine is the main component in liquid applications. By making a “Winter Cocktail” of 80% salt brine, 10% calcium chloride and 10% agricultural, sugar-based products, we can further enhance the effectiveness of the snow and ice control operations.
Other services that we will continue this year include our well attended Tire Amnesty Program, yard waste collection and free compost stockpiles. Early each Spring, on selected Saturdays, anyone living in Palatine Township can drop off their used tires free of charge at our garage. If you are a resident of Palatine Township, stop by and unload your old tires at the Road District Garage, located at: 530 N. Smith Street, Palatine. Bookending Earth Day, the tire amnesty program will be from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday April 17, 2021 and Saturday April 24, 2021. There will be a limit of 10 tires and tires from commercial vendors will not be accepted. We will begin our annual yard waste collection for the unincorporated areas on April 5, 2021 and will continue thru Thanksgiving week, November 22, 2021. Additionally, for your gardening use, we will continue to have free compost which was last year’s yard waste and is offered for anyone to pick-up at the Road District Garage and Town Hall locations.
Thank you for your continued support. Through this difficult moment, we will continue to work together with patience, consideration and understanding. If you have any questions, concerns or need any additional information regarding our services please feel free to email me at adelmar@palatinetownship-il.gov.
