HP_122817

10 | December 28, 2017 | The highland park landmark news
hplandmark.com
From the City
Happy holidays from the
mayor
Often, as one year ends
and another begins, we
talk about gratitude and
what we hope to achieve
in the New Year.
Thank you for your
time and thoughtful input
throughout the year, focusing
on issues that matter to
all of us. We are fortunate
to live in a caring and inclusive
town. Together, we
continue to work to create
the community we desire
both for today and for future
generations.
Regardless of success or
challenge, we have created
a culture where neighbors
work together, care deeply
about each other, and support
those in need. In the
spirit of giving, please
consider putting these core
principles into action.
Let’s continue to care
for our neighbors in need.
Consider donating nonperishable
food to the Moraine
Township Food Pantry
at 777 Central Ave.
Our Fire Department is
collecting new toys during
their Annual Toys for
Tots drive through December
18 and new or gently
used children’s winter hats,
gloves, and scarves for their
cold weather clothing drive
through February 1, 2018.
Collection boxes are located
in the lobby of Fire Station
33 at 1130 Central Avenue.
The City has also partnered
with the USO to
collect books, games and
toys to support families
of US Armed Forces service
members. Donations
can be dropped off at City
Hall, 1707 St. Johns Avenue
through December.
As the saying goes:
Many hands together make
light work. If everyone
contributes, we can make
a difference. Together,
we can give our neighbors
peace of mind and so
much more. Join me. Happy
Holidays!
Highland Park Mayor Nancy
Rotering
Highland Park police
emphasize holiday safety
The holidays are a special
time of year where
friends, family and neighbors
come together to celebrate.
As parties are scheduled
and travel spikes,
there is an increased risk
for youth — including
those students returning
home from college for the
holiday break. The rate of
high-risk drinking, including
under-age drinking, is
alarmingly high. Statistics
cited by the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health
Services Association indicate
that nearly 400
people under the age of 21
die from alcohol-related
causes every month.
Parents and guardians can
help to prevent adolescents
from consuming alcohol
during the holidays by:
Be mindful of your own
drinking behaviors which
provide a model for youths.
Keep track of where
your children are and what
they are doing. They may
be in the family room with
their guests, but stopping
in occasionally to be sure
they are not drinking is a
good idea.
Ask relatives to respect
your family rules if necessary.
As families and friends
gather to celebrate, please
be reminded that it is unlawful
to host a party
where alcohol is provided
and or consumed by those
under 21. It is also important
to use designated drivers
or taxis if you plan to
drink at a party.
Driving a vehicle when
sober is already a challenging
proposition in bad
weather. Imagine the difficulty
when attempting
to do so when affected by
alcohol or drugs.
‘Sharrows’ projected for
2018
In September 2012, the
City adopted the Highland
Park BikeWalk 2030 Master
Plan.
The BikeWalk Plan ensures
pedestrian and bicycle
connectivity with
new proposed paths to
connect existing paths and
enhanced safety.
Part of the BikeWalk
2030 plan calls for striping
on City streets called
“sharrows” which stands
for “share the road arrows”
as well as metal signs that
remind motorists to “Share
the Road” along with wayfinding
signs to provide
information such as location
and distance to select
destinations.
The City received grant
funding to complete the
“sharrows” and signage
project. The grant included
a requirement for the
number of “sharrows” and
signs to be placed in locations
throughout the City.
The striping and signage
project is scheduled to be
completed by Spring 2018.
From the City is compiled
from the City of Highland
Park’s eNews
HP Park District awarded for
excellence in financial reporting
Submitted by The Park District
of Highland Park
The Government Finance
Officers Association decided
the Park District of Highland
Park’s annual financial report
deserved recognition – as it
has for the past 27 years, according
to a press release.
The achievement award
given to the Park District is
the highest award given by the
government association, the
press release read.
“This means that residents
can have confidence that the
Park District of Highland
Park [Certificate of Excellence
in Financial Reporting]
is thorough and provides the
information required for a full
assessment of the district’s financial
strength. It shows we
have done what is required by
the [Government Finance Officers
Association] and have
met their high standards,” Park
District of Highland Park Executive
Director Liza McElroy
said in the press release.
The Park District of Highland
Park certificate was
judged by a panel and meets
the standards of the program
including demonstrating a constructive
“spirit of full disclosure”
to clearly communicate
its financial story and motivate
potential users and user groups
to read the certificate, according
to the press release.
The certificate program was
established by the government
finance group in 1945.
It was instituted to encourage
all governments to prepare and
publish an easily readable and
understandable financial report,
according to the press release.
For more information visit pdhp.
org.
Highland Park releases Net Neutrality statement
Submitted by The City of Highland
Park
The City of Highland Park has
been actively monitoring the Federal
Communications Commission’s
(FCC) vote to repeal net
neutrality rules, allowing Internet
Service Providers (ISP) to block
apps, slow websites and charge
fees to control public online access.
The City is working with
other local government entities;
along with the Illinois Municipal
League and the Northwest Municipal
Conference in monitoring
the potential impact to residents
and determine what can be done
to protect consumers as a result of
the net neutrality repeal and the
commissions’s desire to further
preempt state and local authority,
according to a press release from
the City.
“Net neutrality is essential to
ensuring a fair and accessible Internet.
It is essential to our democracy,
freedom of expression, and
free speech,” Highland Park Mayor
Nancy Rotering said. “Rolling
back these protections means Internet
providers would be able to
charge people more for faster service,
and even block certain parts
of the Internet. That’s wrong and
harmful to residents. The City will
work to protect resident rights and
wallets.”
“Individually or collectively,
municipalities have a public duty
to regulate the right-of-way and
telecommunications facilities
within their communities. Illinois
law specifically provides extensive
discretion to city’s and towns
with respect to permitted uses and
land use variances,” City Manager
Ghida Neukirch said in the
release.
“Preempting state and local
authority for the deployment of
wireless facilities would be harmful
and create a one size fits all approach
would be regulated by the
federal government,” Neukirch
continued.
The FCC recently repealed neutrality
for service providers. Net
neutrality was originally enacted
in 2015 by the Obama administration.
It mandated that service
providers not charge host websites
such as Facebook and Twitter
more money for the amount of
bandwidth they use. Thus disallowing
charging consumers more
for simply using these services.
The FCC order preempts any
state or local law if the law conflicts
with federal policy regarding
broadband Internet service,
according to the press release.
Information and contacts for
state and federal elected officials
may be found by utilizing
the Community Portal, an online
service, according to the press release.
The City encourages residents
to contact these officials to express
concerns regarding the
FCC’s repeal of net neutrality and
the preemption of local government
authority over the deployment
of wireless facilities.