The public comment period is from August 12 to September 11, 2010. All interested individuals are encouraged to review the document and make comments.

The City and SSMMA will hold a public information meeting in conjunction with the comment period on Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at the Blue Island Public Library 2433 York Street, Blue Island, IL 60406.

Visit Marshfield Clean-up page to learn more about the project.

 Quick Links:

•  Draft ABCA [.pdf]
• Marshfield Clean-up

For details about Pace’s RideShare program and about alternate fixed route service options, please call (847) 364-7223.

The Passenger Notice for the Route 397 Elimination will be available for review online at pacebus.com through 8/28/2010.

Fay's Point, Blue Island 2010 Green Ribbon Award Winner

Congratulations to Fay’s Point, LLC, OKW Architects, Inc and partners, on their recent Green Ribbon Award from Friends of the Chicago River in the 1st Annual Blue Ribbon Awards.

1 of 7 inaugural winners, Fay’s Point was recognized “as an excellent example of how residential development can utilize the river to enhance the quality of life for the residents— wild and human alike”.

The Blue Ribbon Awards, which ”recognize environmental leaders and the ecological precedents they set”, are part of the Friends’ new Chicago River Blue program that educates, encourages, and rewards river-sensitive developments and redevelopments that take people, wildlife, and clean water into account.  Chicago River Blue provides guidelines, ideas, examples, vendors, on-line resources, and an annual award to make sensitive river-edge development accessible to everyone.  Download the Press Release

From the Press Release:

“Blue Island, Illinois

• Award Winners: Fay’s Point, LLC and OKW Architects, Inc.
• Project Partners: Henderson Bodwell; Kestrel Design; Kinsella Landscape; Krause Construction; Marlin Environmental; R.I. Johnson; and The Structural Group

Located between the confluence of the Calumet-Sag Channel and the Little Calumet River, Fay’s Point is an excellent example of how residential development can utilize the river to enhance the quality of life for the residents—wild and human alike. The design solution was driven by the goal of creating a walkable, water focused community, imbedded in a restored natural landscape. It includes many eco-focused amenities such as walking trails, canoe launches, boat docks, river front terraces, and bird watching platforms which engage residents and provide opportunity for others to interact with the river.

In addition, 11 acres are dedicated as open natural space, over 1,000 feet of the Little Calumet River bank was restored to the highest environmental standards, including expanded and enhanced wetlands, and mature stands of trees were protected as the site was redeveloped.”

Learn more about Fay’s Point ‘here‘.

Blue Islanders

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau distributed the 2010 Census to more than 130 million addresses across the nation. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution and conducted every 10 years, the census counts every man, woman and child. Mailing back the census form is the easiest way to participate in the 2010 Census, and every household should complete and mail back the form upon receipt.

“The 2010 Census is important to our community’s future. The data gathered will determine funding for vital local services as well as representation at all levels of government,” said Mayor Donald E. Peloquin. “To ensure an accurate count, join me in taking 10 minutes to fill out the form and mail it back.”

Households served by the United States Postal Service will receive their forms in March 2010. Census workers will hand-deliver forms through April 2010 in all other areas. One of the shortest census forms in U.S. Census history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Every person living in the residence, both relatives and nonrelatives, should be included on the form. People should be counted in the residence where they live and sleep most of the time.

“The 2010 Census is an historical event that will help shape the future of our country,” said Dr. Robert M. Groves, Director, U.S. Census Bureau. “It is vital that everyone is counted once and only once and in the right place.”

Census data are used to reapportion seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and for the subsequent redistricting of state and local governments. Census data also help to determine how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to tribal, state and local governments for services that affect local communities. Specifically, census data are critical in determining locations for new hospitals, improving schools, building new roads, expanding public transportation options and creating new maps for emergency responders.

Census form answers are safe and confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

Mailing back a form ensures an accurate count and lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data. About $85 million is saved for every one percent increase in mail participation. Additionally, the Census Bureau saves $60-$70 per census form returned by mail.

Questionnaire Assistance Centers (QAC) will be available to assist those unable to read or understand the census form. For those with visual impairments, the Language Assistance Guide will be available in large print and Braille. Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons who do not have access to Video Relay Service (VRS) can call the TDD number, 1-866-783-2010. In addition to these options, Language Assistance Guides will be available in 59 languages at all QAC locations.

For more information, visit 2010census.gov.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

The comment period starts today, September 3, 2009 and will conclude on October 2, 2009.

You can access and read the full ABCA document via the Blue Island Brownfields Intiative site.

The Illinois Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Program is a 100% federally funded program that supports projects and programs that enable and encourage walking and bicycling to and from school. The program applies to schools serving grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. For more information on the program and its components, please visit the SRTS website.  Congrats!

If you are interested in participating, please email or call Henry Sullivan at 773.278.4803. If you would like to learn more about the study, please visit the project home page at http:www.nvc.vt.edu/chicago/  or download the project Executive Summary. For information and advice on preparing for an emergency, visit the American Red Cross website.

Complete information, documentation, and requirements 
regarding the proposal can be found using this link.

Please direct questions to Mary Poulsen, Marketing Director, City of Blue Island at (708) 396-7035 or via e-mail at mpoulsen@cityofblueisland.org.