The 2007 Legislative Initiatives brochure has been completed and is being reviewed by the Board. A copy of the brochure will be sent via U.S. mail to all Villages and to the Village manager via email around the middle of December. Among the issues are transportation, pensions, motor fuel tax administration, school funding and erosion of dedicated funds.

If you have suggestions or additions, please email them to by the end of December. We hope to deliver copies to the Lake County delegation after the first of the year.

The Village of Lindenhurst joined other Lake County communities and adopted a smoke-free ordinance. At the Regular Village Board Meeting in June, Lindenhurst Village Board passed an ordinance on "Regulating Smoking in Public Places & Places of Employment". This ordinance went into affect November 16, 2006.

A conversation with Mayors and builders on the give and take in a changing environment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 20, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Roosevelt University, 1400 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Schaumburg.

Local Mayors and builders will discuss the opportunities and challenges of a changing housing market, how mayors and developers can advance workforce housing deals together in today’s housing environment, and how to build local support and understanding for a workforce housing development. The forum will wrap up with a discussion of common goals for the future.

The event is sponsored by Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, Illinois Housing Council, Metropolitan Planning Council, Roosevelt University and Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate. Lunch is included so please RSVP to Ivrea Vinson by phone (312-281- 3269) or . For more information go to the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus webpage and look under Housing.

ComEd is sponsoring an Electric Supplier Open House on Friday, December 8, at the Marriott, Oak Brook. Meet independent energy suppliers and learn how to save on energy costs.

The Open House is scheduled for 8:00 am to noon. RSVP to Scott Kuriger (630) 437-2771 or .

This is a brief update of the highlights of the 2006 Fall Veto Session. Watch for more details as they become available.

Removal of Fee Information when Selecting Design Firms
SB 1453 eliminates the ability of local government entities (except home rule units) to obtain fee information for service proposals from architects, engineers and land surveyors in terms of dollars, hours required, percentage of construction cost or any other measure of compensation during the selection process. Local government entities must wait until a firm is selected before discussing price. The bill now goes to the Governor for his action.

Minimum Wage
The General Assembly sent to the Governor legislation to increase the minimum wage from $6.50 to $7.50 per hour in July 2007 and an additional 25 cents an hour per year after that. The legislation, SB 1268, would also create a second-tier “training- wage” allowing employers to pay teenagers fifty cents less than the minimum wage. Adult new hires would also receive fifty cents less during a 90-day probationary period. The minimum wage would increase to the full amount at the conclusion of the probationary period. The wage would not be annually indexed to inflation and the law would sunset in 2010, capping the wage at $8.25 per hour.

Electricity Rate Freeze - House Bill 607, Scully House Bill 2197 Reitz (Clayborne)
Both bills deal with the upcoming expiration of the electricity rate freeze. This issue will be revisited in January before the new General Assembly is inaugurated.

Mobile Home Park Inspections - House Bill 4342, Passed Both Houses
Requires annual inspections of mobile homes by municipal fire departments or local fire protection districts.

Emergency Operations Plan to Include Pets
HB 4804 passed both houses and would amend the Illinois Emergency Management Act to require the state and those municipalities who have an emergency operations plan in place to include the needs of those with pets and service animals.

Cigarette Tax, Senate Bill 716
Passed House. Grants counties the authority to impose a cigarette tax. The tax cannot exceed $2 per pack.