February 25, 2025 at 2:00 pm CSTExpandThe Elburn Village Hall is currently also home to the Elburn Police Department. (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com) The Elburn Village Board’s discussion during the Feb. 18 Committee of the Whole on the possibility of Elburn becoming a golf cart community focused on public safety. Village attorney Bill Thomas reemphasized the wording of the state statute that addresses a unit of government authorizing the operation of non-highway vehicles such as golf carts on roadways under its jurisdiction “if…(it) determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.” “Don’t take these words lightly,” Thomas said. Thomas added that the statute further states the municipality “must consider the volume, speed, and character of traffic on the roadway… (to) determine whether non-highway vehicles may safely travel on or across the roadway.” Trustee Ken Anderson wanted to know how the village would reach that conclusion. “How does a municipality determine that putting those types of uses on public roads is a safe thing?” he asked. “Do you do a study or…?” He said he is thinking about Route 47 and neighborhoods with industrial parks where semi-trucks are prevalent. “I don’t think a semi-truck running into a golf cart would be a good thing, let alone a car,” he said. “The State is silent on how the unit of government would reach this conclusion, only that they reach that conclusion,” Thomas said. “I would assume that there would be some due diligence there to meet that threshold.” The law provides for the driving of golf carts on roads within its jurisdiction and those with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, which would eliminate Routes 38 and 47, as well as Hughes Road and Keslinger Road. During the discussion at the Dec.16 Committee of the Whole meeting, board members were generally leaning towards also prohibiting the crossing of any of those roads. In talking with other police chiefs around Illinois about their ordinances, Police Chief Nick Sikora found that several of them limited the crossing of any major roads to those where a four-way stop or a stoplight exists, while others do not allow the crossing of any road with a speed limit of more than 35 mph. “The thinking for that was, ‘if they can’t drive on it, why should they be able to cross it?’” he said. Sikora found that two municipalities he spoke to have had significant crashes and none reported any lawsuits. Most municipalities require residents to sign comprehensive statements waiving their rights to sue the village if injuries or damage results from a crash. However, as Thomas noted, that doesn’t mean the village won’t get sued. “I cannot give you any guarantees,” Thomas said. He added that some of the language in the waivers acknowledges the significant and inherent risks involved in the use of golf carts on any public road, including serious injury or death. Sikora mentioned some of the additional safety features he would recommend adding to that required in the statute, such as seat belts, side-view and rear-view mirrors, and tires approved by the Department of Transportation. “I tried to add more stringent requirements than the state has,” Sikora said. “My opinion is that golf carts are manufactured and designed to be used on a golf course. I still have serious reservations about us putting golf carts on the street with other motor vehicles that are much heavier and much more powerful and designed for a lot more safety things than what you can build into a golf cart.” Trustee Sue Filek said that she has gotten feedback from many residents. “I’ve had a lot of people who think this is the craziest idea for safety reasons,” she said. “Not that I think it’s a crazy idea; I understand why people would like it, but I still think it should only (be allowed) in neighborhoods.” Trustee Chris Hansen said that while some residents thought it was crazy, the majority said they want it. A quick poll of how the trustees felt about the possibility of a golf cart ordinance resulted in most of them saying they would be OK with such an ordinance, with some hesitation due to safety concerns. Most had reservations about allowing the crossing of roads such as Route 47 and others. Several trustees suggested the ordinance begin with a zoned approach, restricting the use of golf carts to within neighborhoods or subdivisions, with the option to modify it in the future. Trustee Ken Anderson said he was “not in favor” of the ordinance. “Our jobs are to ensure the public safety and welfare,” he said. Trustee Pat Schuberg was not present at the meeting. Village President Jeff Walter said he would like to hear her thoughts on the ordinance, so there will be another discussion scheduled at an upcoming meeting. Susan O'Neill is a contributor to Shaw Local Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network The effort to make Elburn a golf cart community will not move forward — at least for now. After months of research and several drafts of an ordinance, village board members did not second a motion by Trustee Chris Hansen to approve it. The concept had plenty of interest when it was introduced, with 582 residents signing a petition for the board to consider it. The campaign began with Melissa Bollivar, a relatively new resident of the community, and Beth Simmons, co-owner of Main Street Golf Cars in Elburn. They presented information about the concept at a November 2024 board meeting. Bollivar said having a casual way of getting around encourages people to get outside to take kids around the neighborhood or meet their neighbors. Elburn Police Chief Nick Sikora and village attorney Bill Thomas brought information to the board, including state laws governing the vehicles, interviews conducted with police chiefs and sample ordinances from other municipalities around the state. Trustees obtained feedback from residents and researched the pros and cons, the safety risks and the liabilities. Trustees Pat Schuberg and Ken Anderson did not support the idea from the beginning. In December, Schuberg said despite being such a small village, Elburn had two major state highways, a large county road and a railroad crossing, which make the safe operation of golf carts throughout the village difficult to maintain. Anderson cited Route 47 and neighborhoods with industrial parks where trucks are prevalent. “I don’t think a semitruck running into a golf cart would be a good thing, let alone a car,” he said in February. Because of safety concerns, trustees considered limiting the use of golf carts to only within one’s own subdivision or neighborhood. A final proposed ordinance would have allowed residents to drive golf carts only on village roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less and residents would not be allowed to cross major thoroughfares such as Route 47, Route 38 and Keslinger and Hughes roads. The ordinance included a list of other restrictions with fines if drivers were found not to comply. But when Hansen made a motion on April 7 to approve the ordinance, no one seconded. The new term will start at the May 5 village board meeting with the swearing-in of newly elected trustees John Bolger and Megan Mussano, as well as an appointed trustee who will take over the remaining open position. ExpandFILE PHOTO – After months of research and debate, the Elburn Village Board did not move forward on a proposed ordinance to allow golf carts onto village streets. (Matthew Apgar/Matthew Apgar) The effort to make Elburn a golf cart community will not move forward – at least for now. After months of research and several drafts of an ordinance, Village Board members did not second a motion made by Trustee Chris Hansen to approve it. The impetus began with Melissa Bollivar, a relatively new resident to the community, and Beth Simmons, co-owner with her husband of Main Street Golf Cars in Elburn. Simmons and her husband have worked in the golf cart industry for almost 20 years. Bollivar experienced living in golf cart communities in several towns before moving to Elburn. They presented information about the concept at a November 2024 board meeting. Bollivar said having that casual way of getting around encouraged people to get outside to take kids around the neighborhood or just meet their neighbors. Elburn Police Chief Nick Sikora and village attorney Bill Thomas brought information to the board regarding state laws governing these vehicles, interviews conducted with police chiefs and sample ordinances from other municipalities around the state. Trustees obtained feedback from residents and did research of their own on the pros and cons, the safety risks and the liabilities. Trustees Pat Schuberg and Ken Anderson did not support the idea from the beginning. At a December 2024 meeting, Schuberg said despite being such a small village, Elburn had two major state highways, a large county road and a railroad crossing, which make the safe operation of golf carts throughout the village difficult to maintain. Anderson said the state statute addressing a municipality authorizing the operation of non-highway vehicles, such as golf carts, on roadways under its jurisdiction included the language “if … (it) determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.” Anderson said he was thinking about Route 47 and neighborhoods with industrial parks where semitrucks are prevalent. “I don’t think a semitruck running into a golf cart would be a good thing, let alone a car,” he said during the Feb. 18 Committee of the Whole meeting. Sikora also was not in favor of the idea. He gathered information for the board to make its own decision and said he was committed to doing all he could to make the resulting policy as safe as possible. The concerns the trustees discussed over several months of meetings mainly were about public safety, especially the risks that would be involved if golf carts were allowed to cross major streets in the village such as Route 47 and Keslinger Road. Because of these safety concerns, trustees were leaning toward limiting the use of golf carts to only within one’s own subdivision or neighborhood. Trustee Sue Filek said that had been her assumption from the beginning. Trustees offered their final opinions on the subject during a discussion at the March 17 Committee of the Whole. Village President Jeff Walter said the ordinance would be placed on the agenda for a vote at the Village Board meeting at the beginning of April. The final ordinance would allow residents to drive golf carts only on village roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less and residents would not be allowed to cross streets such as Route 47, Route 38 and Keslinger and Hughes roads. The ordinance included a list of other restrictions with resulting fines if drivers were found not to be in compliance. When Hansen made the motion April 7 to approve the ordinance, no one seconded the motion, the step necessary to initiate discussion and ultimately to vote. Although that motion was dead, the ordinance still was an open agenda item, Walter said after the meeting. He said he would bring it back to the Village Board in the new term. Three members of the board will step down at the end of April. They are Filek, who had stepped in to temporarily fill trustee Bill Grabarek’s spot after he died, and Anderson and Schuberg, both of whom decided not to run again. The new term will start at the May 5 Village Board meeting with the swearing in of newly elected trustees John Bolger and Megan Mussano, as well as an appointed trustee who will take over the remaining open position. Elburn officials will consider allowing residents to operate golf cars on village streets, after a resident came forth last month with 582 resident signatures asking for it. Resident Melissa Bollivar turned in the petitions to village officials at a Nov. 4 meeting, after going door-to-door to collect signatures. State statutes include requirements such as having a driver’s license and insurance, headlights and taillights, a minimum driving age of 16 years old, and prohibitions on driving on state and county roads and those with speed limits of more than 35 mph. Beth Simmons, owner of Main Street Golf Cars, said they are great for seniors and people with disabilities, who often have trouble getting up and into passenger vehicles. “It can bring the community together,” she said. “It’s easier to get around and it’s eco-friendly, especially with the electric golf cars.” Bollivar said she lived in two golf car communities prior to moving to Elburn. Having that casual way of getting around encouraged people to get outside to take the kids around the neighborhood or just to meet their neighbors. She envisions people taking their kids to the ball fields or to the ponds to fish, or just to visit some friends on the other side of the neighborhood. “Just getting out into the fresh air, feeling the sun on your face, and the wind in your hair, smelling the flowers in the spring — it makes people friendlier, and it makes them happy,” she said. Police Chief Nick Sikora said he initially was not in favor of the idea, but is impressed Bollivar was able to get so much support for it. He has since researched how communities that allow golf cars manage it. Sikora hopes to have something for the village board to review and discuss at its committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday. Village President Jeff Walter said he is looking forward to the discussion. “There are a lot of safety concerns, obviously,” Walter said. “It’s a very interesting question. I’m anxious to hear what the board has to say.” “What I found that was very impressive about the group is they were very pro-restrictions and pro-enforcement,” he added. “They didn’t want some people to ruin it for everyone else. They’ve given it a lot of thought, for sure.” ©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. February 04, 2025 at 6:00 am CSTExpandThe Elburn Village Hall is currently also home to the Elburn Police Department. (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com) A recent study of the Village of Elburn’s water supply and system revealed that while the current infrastructure is sufficient to meet future demands and requirements, continuous maintenance and strategic improvements are required to ensure a long-term reliable water supply while maintaining the village’s high quality and efficiency standards. Elburn in 2024 commissioned Fehr Graham, a national engineering and environmental firm’s Aurora office to create a master water plan that featured a comprehensive system evaluation of the village’s groundwater wells, distribution networks and supply infrastructure. The firm also assessed the current groundwater supply and storage facilities, including the three water towers. “It (the plan) has almost everything we need right here,” said Superintendent of Public Works Phil VanBogaert. “It keeps you moving in a straight line. I think it’s going to be very valuable to the Public Works staff.” Elburn’s current population is estimated at slightly more than 7,000 residents. With growth projected to continue steadily, it is expected to reach nearly 12,000 by 2044. According to the report, Fehr Graham’s assessment of the surrounding groundwater aquifers suggests they can be expected to remain stable through 2044, eliminating the need for additional investigation into acquiring Lake Michigan water allocations or pursuing local surface water supplies. However, Fehr Graham’s representatives advised that the supply should be closely monitored to adapt to unforeseen changes, suggesting that there may come a time when the village might want to supplement the current deep wells with additional shallow wells. This would mean the use of different treatment options, as the shallow wells will likely require iron filtration, while the current deeper wells require a focus on radium removal. The capital improvement plan outlines a phased approach over the next 20 years with a total cost of approximately $40 million. Key projects include targeted water main replacement to reduce water loss and improve pressure; investments in well maintenance and rehabilitation to existing pumps to maintain adequate production capacity, and improvements to the distribution system to ensure a reliable water supply for both current and future demands. The plan also strongly emphasizes regular maintenance and periodic infrastructure evaluation to extend the lifetime of the village’s existing assets. This scenario utilizes debt financing for distribution projects in 2026 and 2029, which allows the village to potentially leverage future developer contributions through increased connection fees for funding a new tower when additional capacity is required. An evaluation of the village’s current storage capacity found that it is adequate to meet both average daily use as well as peak demands in the case of a fire. Although the three active wells are mainly sufficient to support the demand through 2044, Fehr Graham’s report stated that depending on future growth, a new well may be needed by 2044 or shortly after that. A condition assessment of the general system and facilities revealed a few current deficiencies, including the fact that some north side homes are not receiving enough water pressure. There may be a need to add a booster station to create a third pressure zone, possibly between Route 38 and the north tower. The report identified the village’s distribution system as “moderately fragile” due to the age and condition of the water main piping, leading to frequent water main breaks, with most incidents occurring in the residential area east of North Main Street. The report stated that the village will need to prioritize the replacement of water mains. The village has conducted a material inventory of its 2,614 service lines, with only one so far containing lead. With 178 service lines still of unknown material, the village has set a schedule to annually replace those of identified or suspected lead levels, prioritizing those in high-risk facilities such as schools and healthcare facilities. “Progress is good on the plan,” Village President Jeff Walter said. “We’ve got a few more to identify and we’re going to meet our deadlines.” The proposed plan will come before the village board soon for further discussion and review of the details prior to a vote of approval at a future meeting. Walter said that he is happy to have the water plan in place. He said that it is also very good news that the village’s aquifer is healthy. The water plan is the final one of the three plans that he had set as a goal when he first took office. The first was the village’s strategic plan, followed by the street maintenance plan. “Now we just have to make sure we have enough in the bank to maintain and build for future demand/growth which this plan gives us,” Walter said. After the Elburn village board approved a new ordinance restricting where certain fences will be allowed a number of residents in the Fox Pointe Subdivision have been unhappy about the changes — and their timing The biggest change to the ordinance prohibits privacy fencing which begins at ground level from being installed in the drainage/utility easements within residents’ yards The easements are within 10 feet of the lot line in the front and back and within five feet on the sides of the lot line That means fences will have to be inside of 10 feet in the front and the back of the lot and inside of five feet on the sides Fences on corner lots must also be 25 inches from any sidewalk or right of way Residents who purchased homes in Fox Pointe but have not installed fencing will have to follow the new guidelines “We bought these homes with the old ordinance,” said Grant McDonald a Fox Pointe resident who said his home is surrounded by neighbors with privacy fences and would prefer the same kind for their aesthetics He said installing a privacy fence inside the easements would reduce his usable property by 20% Village Administrator John Nevenhoven said the installation of privacy fences within easements has in some situations interfered with the stormwater infrastructure and swales there have been situations where underground utilities within the easements had to be accessed Even though the village has approved the modified ordinance McDonald is still hoping for a different resolution One suggestion he has offered is the use of maps for the utility boxes that would show the exact location of the various utilities Another option that had been considered by the village was to allow the privacy fences to be built in the easement given a comprehensive inspection by the village engineer who could verify the fence wouldn’t substantially block the drainage paths The homeowner would be charged a higher fee for this inspection at the time of permitting Resident Nikki O’Malley said her neighbors have vinyl fences allowed in their easements She said hers was going to look “bizarre.” “I don’t want the Amazon guy or just anyone driving down the street to be able to see my children playing in the yard and now we’re being penalized for that,” she added village officials say continuing to allow fences in easements risks problems “Some manholes can’t be opened due to fencing built directly over them,” Trustee Matt Wilson said “People don’t see the bigger picture until there are problems,” added Trustee Sue Filek 2025 at 1:24 pm CDTExpandA quintet will bring the music back to The Old Elburn Hall at 7 p.m Grey Matter Quartet will perform at Old Elburn Hall Wednesday April 23 as part of the Wednesday night jazz series Grey Matter Quartet focuses on fusion styled jazz originated by the masters of the style like Herbie Hancock while doors and the kitchen will open at 6 p.m but anyone under age 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian Old Elburn Hall House Quintet on April 30 & May 14 Shaw Local News NetworkShaw Local News Network provides local news throughout northern Illinois The Kamme-O-Circus haunted house in Elburn has been bringing thrills and chills to the community for years and its owners expect to see the biggest turnout ever this year Homeowner Mike Kothe estimates that about 700 people entered the Kamme-O-Circus during a Halloween Party on Oct. 19. The free haunted house at 1128 Liberty Drive is open for the rest of the Halloween season from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday. The Kamme-O-Circus is a haunted house experience the Kothe family has cultivated for 23 years. Kothe and his wife Anne first began decorating their house for Halloween in 2002 in Bolingbrook. With only two strobe lights and a fog machine, it took first place in the local decoration competition. It has since evolved into a two-story display requiring months of preparation, a team of actors and security, and thousands of dollars invested every year. “As it grew, I got more joy seeing people interact with the displays,” Kothe said. “Next thing you know, we were making more and more elaborate attractions, and it was getting bigger.” Kothe said the circus started to take off in 2014 when his wife started investing money into the display each year for him to make it bigger and better. He said it became a full-blown haunted house by 2017. The Kamme-O-Circus is a family business of sorts, with Kothe’s wife providing most of the funding and their two daughters helping with designs and construction each year. Kothe’s wife sponsors the circus through her real estate business, the Kothe-Johnson Collaborative. Kothe said they spend between $3,000 and $6,000 every year to put on the circus and probably have invested more than $40,000 since 2017. Kothe takes a lot of time off from his job as a data specialist for AT&T during the Halloween season to work on the haunted house. The haunted house requires a lot of carpentry and programming by Kothe. He designed and built most of the structural elements of the haunt, which he expanded to two stories several years ago. He programs all of the animatronics and automated elements and records all of the audio clips heard in the haunt in his home studio. Kothe said what he loves most about the Kamme-O-Circus is seeing people’s reactions and creating something fun. He says his neighbors and other community members enjoy watching him set it up each year. “I love the spirit of it, seeing people out with friends having fun,” Kothe said. “To me, it’s that time where you can let your guard down, not be afraid and face your fears. A lot of people aren’t afraid of clowns because of us.” The two-story haunted house has 10 to 12 actors working each day during the weekends and requires a large security team. Clowns always are the theme of the haunted house. This year’s subtheme is classic horror movies. In the past few years, Kothe said, the haunted house has averaged more than 3,000 guests each season and nearly 1,000 every Halloween. He is expecting to see the biggest turnout yet this year. “I don’t think anyone is into it as much as I am,” Kothe said. “We’re pretty crazy. I’m already thinking about next year. I never stop.” December 23, 2024 at 6:00 am CSTExpand(Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com) The safety of the residents was front and center at the Dec. 16 Committee of the Whole meeting as village officials continued their discussion about the viability of making Elburn a golf cart community The state law that would be the foundation for the village’s proposed ordinance allows for non-highway vehicles to be driven on local roads “if the unit of local government determines that the public safety will not be jeopardized.” It states that the local government must consider the volume, speed, and character of the traffic on the roadway to determine if the non-highway vehicles may safely travel on or cross the roadway. Police Chief Nick Sikora provided the board members a “first go-round” draft of a potential ordinance that laid out restrictions regulating the use of golf carts (“carts” being the language used in the state statute) on roads within the village. Sikora had spoken with police chiefs from municipalities around the state, obtaining samples of the ordinances they are using to regulate the operation of golf carts. The discussion about which roads the vehicles would be allowed on began with the understanding that the state would not allow them on state roads, which ruled out Route 47 and 38, nor on any roads where the speed limit was over 35 miles per hour, also eliminating the use of Keslinger and Hughes roads. Sikora said he would also rule out North Street, as it is a designated truck route with a great deal of traffic. The possibility of allowing golf carts on Nebraska Street, currently restricted to pedestrians and bicyclists connecting to the Metra parking lot brought up other concerns, such as the number of children living on the street and extending a street that is currently a dead end. Trustee Pat Schuberg said she didn’t think streets such as Station Boulevard were wide enough to accommodate golf carts and cars; however, Sikora said that most of the streets in the village are narrow. Trustee Sue Filek said that when the topic of golf carts on village streets was introduced, her thought was that golf cart use would be limited to within one’s own neighborhood or subdivision, for things such as visiting neighbors or taking the kids to local ball fields. Sikora said that one suggestion offered by the other chiefs he spoke to regarding following that possibility was the use of license plates in different colors for each neighborhood that would easily identify those from within and those from another neighborhood. Several trustees expressed the likelihood that some people would end up pushing the limits. “You can ticket it; you can legislate it,” trustee Pat Schuberg said. “It’s a project creep waiting to happen.” Sikora said his recommendation for penalties for not following the restrictions would be considered Class 3 moving violations and result in significant fines. A first offense would carry a $250 fine, a second one would cost $500 and a third within the same 12 months would be $750. Underage drivers or those under the influence would not be allowed to drive home, adding a towing fee plus a cost for impoundment, as well as a $500 towing administrative fee. Trustee Ken Anderson wondered about the village’s liability regarding resident safety. Sikora said that each vehicle would go through a licensing process once a year, which would include residents signing a waiver, stating they are assuming all liability. Schuberg said she would still want Bill Thomas, the village attorney, Bill Thomas, to further explore the liability issue. Trustee Chris Hansen suggested that Sikora conduct further research on the locations for crossings to inform further discussion. Sikora said that he would be back before the board in February with further recommendations. ExpandResidents have protested the Elburn Village Board's September restrictions on privacy fences. (Elizabeth Pratt) After the Elburn Village Board approved a new ordinance that placed restrictions on where certain fences will be allowed, a number of residents in the Fox Pointe subdivision have been unhappy about the changes – and their timing. This change is the one creating the most anxiety among residents of Fox Pointe subdivision, the most recent Elburn development in its initial house-building stage. Residents who bought their homes in Fox Pointe but have yet to install fencing will have to follow the new ordinance guidelines. “We bought these homes with the old ordinance,” said Graham McDonald, a Fox Pointe resident who has attended all but one of the Village Board meetings since the beginning of August to follow this issue. McDonald said he was surrounded by neighbors with privacy fences and would prefer the same kind for their aesthetics. However, he said he was not happy to realize that having to install his privacy fence inside the easements would reduce his usable property by 20%. Village Administrator John Nevenhoven said modern subdivisions have drainage swales in the side and rear yards engineered to guide water toward stormwater inlets, conveying water to ponds to help reduce ponding and flooding. All recent village subdivisions, including Prairie Valley, Blackberry Creek, Elburn Station and Fox Pointe, have engineered stormwater systems, he said. Nevenhoven said the installation of privacy fences within the easements has in some situations interfered with the stormwater infrastructure and swales, causing pooling and flooding in yards. In addition, there have been situations where underground utilities within the easements had to be accessed and the fencing made that harder. Even though the village has approved the modified ordinance, McDonald still is hoping for a different resolution. One suggestion he has offered is the use of maps for the utility boxes that would show the exact location of the utilities. A real estate broker, McDonald said that since he moved to Fox Pointe in January, he has sold three houses there. However, he said he has spoken with several people looking to move to Elburn who have reconsidered because of the issue over fencing. Homeowners who had their privacy fences installed before the new ordinance have been grandfathered in under the old ordinance, which allows their privacy fences in or outside the easement. Resident Nikki O’Malley said all of her neighbors have vinyl fences that were installed in their easements under the old ordinance. She said hers was going to look “bizarre.” “Here I am freestanding by myself,” she said. She said when they moved in, they had two options, metal fencing and white vinyl. “I don’t want the Amazon guy or just anyone driving down the street to be able to see my children playing in the yard and now we’re being penalized for that,” she said. She said she and her husband bought the house with a side yard so their daughter could have extra room and now they’re being penalized for wanting to protect their daughter. “It’s getting more difficult for the village to work within the stormwater and utility easements due to the increasing number of utilities within easements, fence installations and landscaping,” Nevenhoven said. “The village has been receiving more complaints of sinkholes in backyards near storm sewers due to utility companies or fencing rupturing storm structures.” “Some manholes can’t be opened due to fencing built directly over them,” Trustee Matt Wilson said. “People don’t see the bigger picture until there are problems,” Trustee Sue Filek said. ExpandElburn lies at the western edge of a proposed housing development in La Fox Residents in the surrounding area are concerned what such a population boom could do their communities (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com) When Elburn Village President Jeff Walter learned of Pulte Homes plans for 970 acres outside of St Charles in an article on the Kane County Chronicle and the Daily Herald websites “This is a big surprise to us that something like this would come this far west,” he said Pulte has submitted a concept plan for the proposed Charles Farm with a request for annexation to the City of St Charles to build a 970-acre residential development of more than 2,000 residential units The plan calls for a Del Web 967-unit active seniors community plus 846 single-family homes and 198 townhomes as well as 15 acres of commercial development The western border of the proposed development places it about a mile from Elburn’s border at Keslinger and Pouley Elburn has worked with the La Fox community and others to promote growth while also preserving green space delineation between our communities,” wrote Walter in a statement to St Charles over a large open space complex and land a large residential development on top of La Fox with no connectivity to St Walter said that this proposed development would also result in confusing layers of school districts Walter said that the Village of Elburn along with a number of other surrounding government agencies have supported Drew Frasz former Kane County Board member and President of the La Fox Civic Association in coming to terms with several developers over the past 24 years to oppose large-scale high-density developments that would have disrupted the rural community identity of La Fox it wants to maintain The area includes the La Fox Historic District and over two miles of Mill Creek which contains endangered species Frasz and the other members of the La Fox Association were successful in reaching an agreement between La Fox and a developer to build “Settlements of La Fox” community of 1,275 dwelling units on 1,200 acres with a density of 1.06 units/acre and 45 percent open space with Kane County oversight The plan was approved by the Kane County Board in 2007 however was put on hold by the 2008 recession Frasz said that the development Pulte is proposing to build has a density of 2.27 units/acre vs over twice the density of the previously negotiated agreement He said that the developer has not reached out to the community of La Fox and their plan ignores the La Fox Historical District and the Brundige Road Rustic Road designation Pulte Homes will present its concept plan for the development People may attend the meeting in person or virtually on zoom People may send their comments to cdstcharlesil.gov up until 2 p.m. on Sept. 4. People may attend the meeting in person or virtually on zoom, by first registering on the St. Charles website. ExpandElburn Trustee and retired Cook County Sheriff Detective Lou Santoyo has announced his candidacy for Kane County Sheriff Santoyo announced his bid during a campaign event Thursday evening at Craft Urban in downtown Aurora Santoyo has 28 years of law enforcement experience Santoyo worked as a criminal justice instructor and is currently a village of Elburn trustee “I’m not running to wear a badge – I’ve worn one,” Santoyo said in the release “I’m running to restore the meaning behind it Law enforcement should never be about fear uplift and honor every life in this county.” Johnson and Rodriguez are both vying for the Democratic nomination Johnson announced her bid earlier this month. According to her campaign website lead evidence technician and chief of staff Rodriguez announced his bid in November 2024. According to his campaign website and he holds a Master’s degree from Aurora University Rodriguez and Johnson will have to make it through the April 7 Rodriguez and Johnson are set face off in April while Santoyo does not yet have a challenger for the Republican nomination Santoyo is also a certified forensic artist hostage negotiator and bilingual crisis responder having worked extensively with immigrant and underserved communities “I know what it feels like to be invisible,” Santoyo said in the release “To grow up in a place where your future is already decided for you But I also know what it means to rise above to serve and to stand for something greater than yourself.” According to Santoyo’s campaign website, his campaign is focused on restoring public trust, supporting mental health resources for both officers and the public, expanding community-based policing, strengthening inter-agency cooperation, and ensuring fiscally responsible leadership. “As your sheriff, I’ll bring experience, empathy, and accountability to the job,” Santoyo said in the release. “This campaign is about building a Kane County where no one feels powerless, and every resident – no matter their zip code –feels protected and respected.” ExpandProperty developers are looking at land near Elburn for a faith-centered community, with hopes Elburn would ultimately incorporate the land. (Sandy Bressner - sbressner@shawmedia.com) Developers came to Elburn hoping to get feedback on a proposed development of a faith-centered community at the northwest corner of Routes 47 and 38. Developer Rick Lewellyan and attorney James White, together with the A&R petitioners Jamal Alkurdi and Yusuf Rayyashi, attended the Committee of the Whole meeting Sept. 16 regarding the mixed-use development originally proposed to the village in 2020. An updated version was reviewed by a planning consultant for the village in 2022 and a similar plan was brought before the Planning Commission in July of this year. The property in question is located on the northwest side of Route 47, north of Route 38, across from the Fox Pointe development. It’s bordered on the south by the Jewel complex, with undeveloped land slated for residential on the north and west. The site is 133 acres identified residential in the village’s comprehensive plan and designated as a primary growth area. Although the property is on 133 acres, White said the developers are proposing an initial plan that addresses only 70 of the acres for a nonprofit faith-centered community. White said it is not a national developer such as Lennar Homes nor is it a large-scale developer such as Shodeen. “It’s a faith-centered developer and they chose Elburn due to the village’s family values and morals,” White said. “It’s been these gentlemen’s dream of developing a community where people of common faith live, work, play and learn. This is not a new concept, it’s just something that’s been happening throughout the U.S. with different denominations.” White said access to the development from Route 47 would feature a grand boulevard where the religious center for religious services, a private school and an activity center would be located. White said the plan is to include “high-end” single-family homes on larger lots and an area for “traditional townhomes with unique architectural elements.” The townhomes would provide a buffer between the single-family homes and Route 47. The “first-class” mixed-use development would include commercial and office space where professionals such as doctors and lawyers would locate. White showed pictures of house styles and layouts of similar developments such as Mill Creek. White said the development initially would include a temporary building for religious services that also could be used as a sales office for the residential development. Since the property is unincorporated, he said it might end up being developed through Kane County. The developers would want to annex the property into Elburn, he said, adding they would want to hook up now to the village’s water facilities. White said the developers were there to “get the temperature” of the board on “whether Elburn believes the land development uses and the housing types would be appropriate for Elburn and a welcome addition to the village.” Village President Jeff Walter wanted to clarify what they could expect at this meeting. “We have a process,” Walter said. “This meeting is just for informational purposes. The comments already given to you (by the planners) will have to be dealt with. We would want a plan for the whole property even if you want to do it in phases. You would have to go back to the planning commission for their approval first.” Trustee Ken Anderson said there were many issues with the property that they would need to address before the board can act including how they will be able to connect to the village’s sewer services through a number of private properties, IDOT issues regarding access points to the roads, dealing with stormwater management issues to ensure it will not impact the properties downstream, as well as what they will do to mitigate the fact that a portion of the property is in a flood plain. “You guys are four steps ahead of where you should be, talking to us about something that hasn’t been approved by planning,” Walter said. “There’s a lot of open questions. We can’t act on ‘what-ifs.’ There’s way too many gray areas. If you want a phased approach, show us.” There was much discussion back and forth between the developer and the board with Lewellyan saying the success of the development depends on getting the community of faith center built first. “If you build it, they will come,” he said. Lewellyan emphasized these were small developers without all the resources needed to address all of the issues. “We’re building a dream here. We’re not going to build another Jewel,” he said. “You’ve got to show us that your plan works, that the infrastructure works,” Village Administrator John Nevenhoven said. “There were a lot of issues with that plan and none of that has been addressed. We’re just at the idea stage. We need the engineering.” “It’s not the feedback you wanted, but it is feedback,” Trustee Sue Filek said. 16-18 features a full weekend of live entertainment There is no charge to enter the beer garden or listen to the bands perform and businesses march in the annual Elburn Days parade kicking off the three-day festival on Friday at 6 p.m from the intersection of North Reader and Main streets the parade heads south on Main Street/Route 47 then west on South Street to end at Lions Park at the corner of South Street and Filmore Street Drivers should use an alternate route that evening Main Street/Route 47 will be closed from Route 38 to Keslinger Road from 5:45 to 8 p.m There will be old favorites and new acts on the Main Stage Whiskey Romance will open the festival stage at 8 p.m the Jared Olson Band will perform from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by the headliners Trippin Billies the three-day festival will close out with Motown Nation from 3 to 5:30 p.m There also will be music at the beer garden with Terry Byrne Music from noon to 3 p.m and the classic rock duo Kev & Matt from noon to 2:30 p.m The Community Stage is filled with family-friendly entertainment all weekend long Many of the events are open to participation for kids It will be set up just east of the clubhouse bring your lawn chair or blankets for a free children’s movie in the park at 8 p.m the Leos Induction Ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m the dancers from M & M Dance will take the stage dance to the music of Taylor Swift and bring your best friendship bracelets Enjoy a Barbie Stage Performance at 3:15 p.m the Kids Fun Zone will offer free games and activities from noon to 3 p.m the community worship service will be at 9:30 a.m veterans are invited for free coffee and doughnuts kids can learn some fun facts about the American flag and learn how to properly fold it there will be a Willy Wonka Stage Performance and Photos with the Characters Girls and boys age 5 to 10 can join in a free Hip Hop Class at 1:30 p.m there will be a dance performance by Dance Dynamics followed by dancers from M & M Dance at 3:30 p.m Stop by the IG Worthy Photo Stations throughout the weekend There will be volunteers at the station most times The stations will be available for photos all weekend The Truck & Tractor Pulls return for 47th year starting at 11 a.m The Illini State Pullers class lineup may include: Super Stock Trucks Support local with the Elburn Chamber of Commerce's Elburn Days Craft Show from 5 to 9 p.m Blackberry Masonic Lodge 359 is hosting a pie-baking contest Drop off your pies for registration between 8 and 9:30 a.m The Elburn Days Charity RC Car Race returns on Sunday The race brings together hobbyists and enthusiasts from around the region to compete on a specially designed track showcasing their skills with a variety of remote-control vehicles accommodating different types of remote control cars and skill levels will help ensure a fun and competitive environment for everyone involved Spectators will have the opportunity to witness high-speed action and precision driving Entry fee is $10 a class; limit 4 entries per person Register in advance at HobbyTown Batavia but they will have registration from 8 to 8:45 a.m Grab your daubers and lucky socks for this year's Elburn Days Bingo You must be 18 years of age or older to play The Lions also will be selling $1 pull tabs during bingo The Elburn Lions Club hosts a car raffle every year Tickets are on sale for $20 at the Lions Club The winner will receive the choice of a 2024-25 Chevy car or truck from Bob Jass Chevrolet in Elburn or $30,000 cash Tickets also will be on sale at various locations throughout Lions Park during the entire festival Profits will go to projects that aid the community and visually impaired Profits generated from Elburn Days go toward Lions Club projects such as: Community Citizens in Need Visit elburnlions.com/elburn-days/ for a complete schedule of events or go to facebook.com/elburndays. ExpandThe Kamme-O-Circus Halloween Party was hosted by the Kothe Johnson Collaborative on Saturday (Julie Walker for Shaw Local News Network) Elburn’s Kamme-O-Circus has been bringing thrills and chills to the community for years and owners expect to see the biggest turnout ever this year Elburn resident and haunted house owner Mike Kothe estimated about 700 people entered the Kamme-O-Circus during their Halloween Party on Oct Cole Santagata and Ryan Johnson see a frightening clown at the Kamme-O-Circus Halloween Haunted House on Saturday The free haunted house is open for the rest of the Halloween season from 5 to 10 p.m The Kamme-O-Circus is a haunted house experience that the Kothe family has been cultivating for 23 years Kothe and his wife Anne first began decorating their house for Halloween in 2002 in Bolingbrook With only two strobe lights and a fog machine it took first place in the local decoration competition it has evolved into a two-story display that requires months of preparation a team of actors and security and thousands of dollars invested every year I got more joy seeing people interact with the displays,” Kothe said we were making more and more elaborate attractions and it was getting bigger.” Kothe said the circus really started to take off in 2014 when his wife started investing money into the display each year for him to make it bigger and better He said by 2017 the house had changed from a display of decorations to a full-blown haunted house The Kamme-O-Circus is a family business of sorts with Kothe’s wife providing most of the funding and their two daughters helping with designs and construction each year Kothe’s wife sponsors the circus through her real estate business Kothe said they spend between $3,000 and $6,000 every year to put on the circus and probably have invested more than $40,000 since 2017 Kothe does the majority of the constructing and takes a lot of time off from his job as a data specialist for AT&T during the Halloween season to work on the haunted house (Left to right) Hadley Gilbertson and Addison Klein meet some Killer Klowns in the Kamme-O-Circus Halloween Haunted House on Saturday requiring a lot of carpentry and programming by Kothe He designed and built most of the structural elements of the haunt which he expanded to two stories several years ago He programs all of the animatronics and automated elements and records all of the audio clips heard in the haunt in his home studio Kothe said what he loves most about the Kamme-O-Circus is seeing people’s reactions and creating something that is fun for people He said his neighbors and other community members love watching him set it up each year seeing people out with friends having fun,” Kothe said it’s that time where you can let your guard down A lot of people aren’t afraid of clowns because of us.” Wyatt and Jenna Caricato get freaked out at the Kamme-O-Circus Halloween Haunted House on Saturday Kothe said the Kamme-O-Circus has had guests ranging in age from infants to a 92-year-old The two-story haunted house has 10 to 12 actors working each day during the weekends and requires a large security team Kothe creates the designs for the Kamme-O-Circus using a 3D modeling program in virtual reality He finished this year’s designs in February so they could be approved by the village of Elburn during the summer The theme of the haunted house always is focused around clowns This year’s sub-theme is classic horror movies Besides converting some of the clowns to reflect classic horror movie characters for the new theme this year’s build added two new towers and several new animatronics Kothe said in the past few years they have averaged more than 3,000 guests each season and close to 1,000 every Halloween He is expecting to see the biggest turnout yet this year Sunny Knous (far right) watches as balloon artist Scarlett Diaz (left) makes a spider balloon for her at the Kamme-O-Circus Halloween Party on Saturday Kothe said he already is working on plans for next year’s designs “I don’t think anyone is into it as much as I am,” Kothe said The Kothes also created the Halloween House Decoration Contest in Elburn in 2019 This year’s contest can be entered until Oct Kothe said someday he would like to find a permanent setting for the haunted house but has no plans to stop adding to the circus. an American won the Los Angeles Marathon men's division defeating the next closest runner by more than two minutes to win the Los Angeles Marathon RELATED STORY | Kenyan runner breaks barrier during world-record setting Chicago Marathon His time also marked the sixth-fastest marathon by an American ever recorded Richtman finished the Los Angeles Marathon course more than four minutes faster than any other American on record He ran each mile at an average pace of 4:57 per mile it was just Richtman's second marathon ever He came in fourth place at October's Twin Cities Marathon “It’s definitely a surprise,” Richtman told the Los Angeles Times It’s really hard to judge where you stack up against competition but it was a really good group out there today and I was really happy to run with those guys and then ultimately win it.” RELATED STORY | Is it the shoes? Runner shatters women's marathon world record Richtman competed for Montana State University in track and cross country and he ran a 5k and a 10k in cross country in 28:07 The marathon started near Dodger Stadium and finished in Century City The race paid tribute to the victims of the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area ExpandLiam Stern gets congratulated as he receives a merit badge during Boy Scout Troop 7’s 100th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday 2024 at the Community Congregational Church in Elburn Elburn Boy Scout Troop 7′s 100-year anniversary event was an opportunity to celebrate 100 years of scouting, recognize Scouts for badges earned, let parents hear about their sons’ accomplishments, have former scouts and leaders share memories of their experiences and have everyone share a meal and fellowship. Many of the memories shared at the Community Congregational Church included interesting or funny situations experienced during an activity or an adventure. 1987 Eagle Scout Jim Crump told of a camping trip in New Mexico where the boys were treated to a show of the northern lights that lit up the entire sky and a chase involving a bear. Crump said his dad Mark Crump was his hero and he was the only scoutmaster (1983-1986) who would take the entire troop on a trip on his own. One of the current leaders said that was a different time and it would never happen today. Former scoutmaster Bob Michek (2007-2011) had the distinction of being a key character in several of the stories shared, including a canoeing trip during which all but one canoe that had been tied together overnight ended up down the river. Michek’s response when he woke up the next morning to the news? “Well, looks like we have another story to tell,” he said. Michek described the troop as a place where scouts can grow, have fun and learn some things along the way. He challenged today’s scouts to “make sure you leave the troop better than it was when you joined it.” Scoutmaster Steve Gramley recalled being invited to a scout meeting by friend Bart Needham in 1983 when the boys were in seventh grade. Gramley said he “reluctantly accepted.” He said scoutmaster Crump took the time to tell him about all the camping adventures the troop went on. Forty years later, he was back with the troop as a leader, sharing the experience with his son, Robert Gramley (Eagle Scout 2022). “One invitation and one conversation can change a person’s life,” he said. 1989 Eagle Scout Chad Clarey told the scouts that living by the 12 Scout Laws will become a habit that will stay with them throughout their lives. “My hope is that each of you cherish today and realize how special this is,” Clarey said. “It has been the highlight of my life to have the memories of spending this time with my dad (former assistant scoutmaster Tom Clarey).” After the formal celebration, the group shared a meal and more memories. Photos of the troop and its activities over the years were available for viewing. Arranged by decade were newspaper articles about the troop by the Elburn Herald, with one dating to the founding of the troop on June 27, 1924. Thaddeus Thompson (2010-2017) said scouting offered him opportunities to participate in activities, to try new things such as spar-pole climbing a tree and to learn new skills such as metal work and welding. He said scouting taught him about developing a good attitude and respect for other people, nature and the planet, as well as the confidence and the readiness to do his best. AJ Faruga, a junior in high school who has been in scouting since he was in first grade, said he has learned a lot of life skills, such as money management and fitness, and outdoor skills, such as how to make a fire. His plan is to become an Eagle Scout through a landscaping project for Lazarus House, including work on their patio and gazebo. His father, assistant scoutmaster Wayne Faruga, said AJ has developed leadership skills, taking on the role of Senior Patrol Leader. His mom, Debbie Faruga, said she likes the community aspect of her son’s scouting experience and that he has grown so much through meeting so many people with different personalities. The troop rotates between four high adventure trips each year: Sea Base in Florida, with sailing, scuba-diving and rustic camping on an undeveloped barrier island; Philmont Scout Ranch, where New Mexico wilderness is available for backpacking and camping; canoe trips in the Boundary Waters area along the Minnesota and Canada borders; and Isle Royale. Closer to home, activities include weekend camping, roadside cleanup projects, Elburn Memorial Day and Elburn Days parades, pancake breakfast fundraisers and more. The boys earn badges by demonstrating skills they’ve learned, from auto maintenance and backpacking to sustainability and swimming. Asked what allowed Troop 7 to reach its 100th year, committee chair Gene Stern and Gramley both gave credit to the Community Congregational Church, which has sponsored the troop from the beginning. “They’ve always been there, including providing a place for us to meet and hold activities,” Stern said. “All of the parents and others who were willing to take it on, generation after generation. It’s kind of like a relay race. You take your turn and then you pass the baton on to the next leaders.” However, they both emphasize that the ability of the troop to survive, indeed to thrive, has always been the volunteers. Gramley said they are always looking for people to become volunteers as well as scouts. He would like to start a girls troop when they have enough women interested in becoming leaders. ExpandMaurivio Silvestri was sworn into the Elburn Police Department as a full-time officer on Monday The Elburn Police Department swore in a new full-time police officer at the Village Board meeting July 15 Maurivio Silvestri will fill a spot vacated more than a year ago officers who had been offered the position within the past year did not work out One decided to accept a job with another department one completed police academy training but did not make it through the field training program and one who was certified through the academy decided not to leave his position Sikora said many police departments of Elburn’s size have a more difficult time attracting sworn officers who usually end up going to work for larger departments Maurivio Silvestri was sworn into the Elburn Police Department Monday He has an associate's degree in criminal justice and will undergo several training programs While not a sworn officer, Silvestri joins the department with an associate’s degree from Waubonsee Community College in criminal justice and experience working for the college as a police cadet. Silvestri’s start date was July 17. He will complete several comprehensive training programs, beginning with in-house training to learn the department’s policies and procedures. Given that he passes a state-mandated physical agility test, he then will begin a 16-week police academy training course in August to graduate in December. The police academy curriculum, set by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, consists of topics such as traffic law, criminal law, firearms, defensive tactics, ethics, investigative procedures, cultural diversity and community policing. Once he graduates from the academy, Silvestri will come back to the department to begin 16 weeks of field training, where he will be observed and graded on a daily basis. Handling service calls, controlling and defusing situations, making the decision to arrest and determining what charge to make and handling a vehicle crash are skills that he will need to demonstrate before going on patrol on his own. Matt Richtman started separating from the pack in Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon at a U-turn nearly 23 miles into it where he could see his competition a 2018 graduate of Kaneland High School from Elburn It was only the second time he competed in a full marathon It was a great day,” Richtman said Monday from Mammoth Lakes “It’s still kind of sinking in — just so many different emotions — and having the support from everyone there (in California) and back home I’m just taking it little by little,” said Richtman where he was a two-time cross country All-American at Montana State University Richtman fielded about 350 congratulatory text messages for all he accomplished He was the first American man to win the LA Marathon in 31 years since Paul Pilkington in 1994 “This race for me was more about placement, trying to come away with the win. So the time itself, it was definitely a surprise at the end,” said Richtman, who placed fourth at the Twin Cities Marathon in October a 10-time All-American at Montana Tech now coaching at Purdue Younger sister Rachel was in Indianapolis anchoring the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs’ All-America distance medley relay at the Division II Indoor national championship That left parents Tom and Karen Richtman scrambling to follow their son along the Los Angeles course until they reached Mile 26 “Shedding a couple of tears in just amazement Tom was giving me a hard time because I kept saying he was always such a great teammate and cared about others He worked hard and was always clutch in big moments for the team,” said Lyle Weese Montana State’s head track and field and cross country coach “To sum up Matt in two words: hungry and humble,” said Kaneland boys track coach Andy Drendel who saw Richtman earn the last of his four all-state track finishes “Matt never questioned coaches or put himself above his teammates he would do,” said former Knights track coach Eric Baron “I think Matt would agree that God has done something very special with Matt's talents and quite possibly could have more in store for him,” said Kaneland boys cross country coach Chad Clarey who had Richtman for three all-state finishes Richtman’s performance in Los Angeles elevates his profile and perhaps opens new vistas Watching the 2024 Olympics race walk with his father Richtman suggested that the event may be his ticket to the Olympics “There’s still plenty of time before then and a lot of different variables to work through So I don’t want to think about it too much,” said Matt Richtman who won $20,000 — and flowers — for his marathon win “I definitely don’t want to get my hopes up too high We’re up against a lot of good competitors in the United States part of the city of DeKalb's public transit system heads east on Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb Monday DeKALB – DeKalb residents will soon have more opportunities to ride a public transit bus to the Metra train station in Elburn The City of DeKalb plans to add more trips to its Route 12 transit line effective Aug. 26, according to a news release. The line runs from downtown DeKalb to the train station City officials said the change is to accommodate growing use of that specific route line and expanded passenger numbers overall “This is good news for passengers,” City Manager Bill Nicklas said at a July 22 City Council meeting “In response to some surprising strong support from our community there’s an expansion of routes going to and from Elburn.” Two evening trips between DeKalb and Elburn will be added to coincide with Northern Illinois University’s upcoming fall and spring semesters The city also will add an afternoon trip during the break-service schedule Riders to Elburn are invited to park for free in downtown DeKalb to ride the bus to the train station Frost Lot at East Locust Street between North Sixth and North Seventh streets is for Route 12 riders The Metra line goes all the way to downtown Chicago For more information or to view route maps, visit www.cityofdekalb.com. A midnight trip also will be added to Routes 17A and 18A, which officials said “meets the needs of the local workforce.” Route 17 runs from downtown DeKalb to Sycamore Road. Route 18 runs from North Annie Glidden to Sycamore Road to the DeKalb County Health Department. “That matches the full-service schedule, providing the same hours year round for riders using the route to commute to work,” city staff wrote in a news release. City officials said ridership from NIU also is growing. To accommodate that, more buses will be added to Routes 2R and 2L. Route 5, which is “underutilized” according to the city, will be used to help meet that need. Routes 2R and 2L run between NIU’s residence halls, West Lincoln Highway and Barsema Hall on campus. Route 5 ran from Eco Park to NIU’s Greek row. City transit lines on Route 4 and Route 5 will be converted to be used full time on Route 10, according to the city. Route 10 will run every 15 minutes during peak hours when NIU is in session. Route 10 runs from Eco Park to Twombly Road and Ridge Drive. Those buses travel between the Annie Glidden and Normal Road corridors. Costs associated with the changes in city transit routes are paid for with federal and state transit money. ExpandWayside horns were designed to replace the train’s horn as a means of alerting motorists to danger, enhancing the safety at at-grade rail crossings. (Troy Taylor) Elburn residents soon should find some relief from the relentless noise of train horns as they approach the railroad crossings in the downtown area. Public Works Superintendent Phil Van Bogaert said the wayside horn system that was installed at the intersection of First and Main (Illinois Route 47) streets in 2009 has been malfunctioning since October 2022. Village President Jeff Walter said they got the system working for a while but gave up when it went out again the last time. Wayside horns were designed to replace the train’s horn as a means of alerting motorists to danger, enhancing the safety at at-grade rail crossings. When a train approaches, the wayside horn system detects the oncoming train and blasts a warning sound focused directly at the intersection, reducing the noise in the surrounding area. Train engineers still are allowed to blow their horn if they see something on the tracks, somebody walking near the tracks, in bad weather or if there is an indicator light that the automated system is not working. When the system was first installed, the manufacturer, Railroad Controls Limited, told village officials that a regular 80-decibel train horn can be heard in the surrounding 171 acres while the automated horn at the intersection affects only five acres. However, the signals (the large red XXs) at the intersection in Elburn that tell the train engineer that a horn will blow at the crossing are broken, so even if the crossing horn is blowing, the engineer doesn’t realize it and still thinks he also needs to blow his horn, Van Bogaert said. “I’ve been receiving feedback from residents on a regular basis,” he said. The village’s initial attempts at getting the system fixed were stymied when it was discovered that the original manufacturer did not make the components anymore. After much research, Van Bogaert found another manufacturer, Rio Grande Pacific Technology, created by several former employees from Railroad Controls Limited. Elburn received a proposal in 2023 from RIOTECH for the installation of two wayside horns, one at the South Main Street and one at the South First Street crossings for $125,905. With additional expenses, the total was $144,905. However, the money was not in last year’s budget. This year, RIOTECH’s proposal for the work is $125,905. RIOTECH said it should be able to resolve all issues remotely in coordination with Elburn support staff and most likely could work with local electrical companies such as Leyden Electric if on-site repairs are needed. RIOTECH also told village officials that monthly inspections, which the village had Leyden Electric perform in the past, are not needed. It recommended quarterly inspections. RIOTECH said it has been installing this version of the system since 2017 and so far has not had a need for an update. Based on previous experience, Van Bogaert said there will be issues as the system ages, the magnitude of which is unforeseen. When other municipalities that had contracted with RIOTECH were contacted, one system had issues during extreme cold temperatures and the others said they had only minimal issues. All municipalities that responded said the service from RIOTECH has been timely and good. Walter said he wasn’t sure when the new system would be installed. 2024 at home surrounded by her loving family the daughter of William and Mary (McBreen) Stuebinger Sallie was the former Kane County Supervisor of Assessment who held the office for four terms from 1990-2006 She loved quilting and some of her swatches were shared all over the world Sallie loved to sew especially with her grandchildren and also spending time on her deck watching nature Sallie will be remembered fondly by her former staff as well as many family and friend She is survived by her two children Kathleen (Jon) Huber-Love of Geneva and Michael (Robin) Huber of Elburn; grandchildren Emily Rose (Dan) Draeger and William Andrew Huber; great grandchildren Makinzie She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband George who passed away in 2019 Elburn for Celebration of Funeral Mass at 9:30 am with Father Max Streidl Celebrant Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Geneva 2024  from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Malone Funeral Home with a Liturgical Wake Service at 7:45 pm For information 630-232-8233 or visit malonefh.com The 13th hole at Hughes Creek Golf Course in Elburn was far from unlucky Monday for Ottawa sophomore Bryer Harris par-4 13th at the Class 2A Kaneland boys sectional and it propelled him to a third place individual finish Harris carded a 2-over 74 as the Pirates deadlocked with Burlington Central for the top spot Harris thought that the hole — after he hit his drive — might be catastrophic for his score “I actually hit my drive a little bit right,” he said “and we couldn’t find the ball for a second At that point we were thinking we had lost a ball “It was 92 yards to the hole (from the rough),” Harris added it took one hop in front of the hole and dunk Tyler Samaan shot 75 (fifth place medal) to lead Burlington Central while teammate Matthew Zierk finished at 77 he was more focused on the Rockets advancement as a squad rather than individual honors I had to do what was best for my team,” Chesney said one of three seniors on the Burlington Central starting roster plans to go to either Murray State or the University of Pikeville after graduation and also join the bass fishing team (He’s on the Burlington Central bass fishing roster “Just want to go south,” he said of his choice to attend college in Kentucky Camden Sarallo counted the fourth score for Burlington Central at 80 Sophomore Brady Cross of Lakes tied Harris of the Pirates for third place with a 74 His round included five birdies on the 6,506-yard course enjoyed playing on the difficult Elburn layout Henry Samulak of Lakes tied for eighth at 77 while senior Payton Harlow from Prairie Ridge placed 13th with a 78 Harlow had four birdies in his final six holes including what he called a “lucky chip” on the 17th where it hit the stick and went in he said he was nervous but knew what he had to do Then when I hit my approach shot (a 245-yard hybrid to the green) Ottawa and Boylan will move on as teams to the state tournament at Weibring Golf Club in Normal on Oct “Our team has played well this year,” said Harris “We have a great group of guys who root each other on and work well together.” Cole Beto from Rockford Boylan was the medalist with a 3-under 69 A former Cook County sheriff’s deputy is running for Kane County sheriff Lou Santoyo of Elburn announced Thursday he is seeking the Republican nomination in the 2026 primary Santoyo has been an Elburn trustee for two years he spent 28 years as a law enforcement officer He grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood in Chicago he obtained a college degree and became a licensed teacher he is highlighting conservative principles of fiscal responsibility community-driven approaches to modern policing.” Hain has endorsed Undersheriff Amy Johnson Johnson has worked at the sheriff’s office since 2003 Salvador Rodriguez The Sugar Grove candidate is seeking the Democratic nomination ExpandKane County property transfers (Shaw Local News Network) Batavia Annies Funhouse LLC to Navi Trac Special Purpose LLC Christoph Plenio to Kevin Oehlerking and Nikki Kalinowski Cipher Enterprises LLC to Richard and Sarah Benson De Vincentis to Patricia Manuel Randa and Alejandro Renteria LLC to Urvin Patel and Nitabahen Vishnubhai Patel LLC to Matthew Arends and Kimberly Colleen Arends LLC to Thomas Doyle III and Sharon Frigo Doyle Campton Hills Residence at 39W659 Louisa May Alcott Drive Shodeen Homes LLC to James Turnell and Kathryn A Residence at 39W675 Louisa May Alcott Drive Elburn CalAtlantic Group LLC to Jennifer Marie Hartley Shodeen Homes LLC to Ryan Reichardt and Hannah Banks Geneva Wessels to Daniel Maciejczyk and Kristine Canada Maple Park Fox Valley Inspections & Remod to Alex Sanchez and Alana Denise Weber North Aurora Kish to Sean Suwalski and Challen Eigenhauser Charles Monzon to Daniel and Meghan Jewett St. Charles Mandy Boyd to Dilshod Sabirov and Laziza Djabbarova Charles Properties LLC to D&D Capital Investments St Open Sky Investments LLC to Matthew Christian Schauer and Amy Bryson Barlow Schauer Gregory Wetzel to Craig and Rebecca Gillam Zehelein to Christian Ruiz and Ashley Thompson South Elgin Lucas Hogate to Parker Charles Fink and Rebecca Ewing CalAtlantic Group LLC to Stephanie Sucharitham CalAtlantic Group LLC to Pavel and Tatsiana Bondziush CalAtlantic Group LLC to Jacquitta and Terence Pool M I Homes Of Chicago LLC to Rachel and Jackson Schanks M I Homes Of Chicago LLC to Samuel Scott Wrobel and Alejandra Saldana Hernandez CalAtlantic Group LLC to Rajeshkumar and Varshaben Patel CalAtlantic Group LLC to Kishor Harilal Patel and Dipika Kishor Patel CalAtlantic Group LLC to Phouvilay and Phetsakhone Thavisay M I Homes Of Chicago LLC to Serghei Vinitinschi and Yekaterina Makedon Sugar Grove David D. Stansel to Laura Torrey, Residence at 19 Penny Lane, Sugar Grove, $375,000, Sept. 18. Frasca Trust to Deborah Davison, Residence at 737 Manor Hill Place, Sugar Grove, $510,000, Sept. 24.