Building Department

Building Director: Brian Goralski
Assistant Building Director: Don Fredericks

In 1947, the Building Department was approved by ordinance to provide safety inspections and regulations for all phases of construction in the Village. Today, the Building Department enforces the provisions of all adopted codes and issues permits for all building activities from decks, pools and driveways, to new commercial, existing commercial and residential buildings. The issuance of permits includes the review of all plans and specifications for Village code compliance, as well as the inspection of all phases of construction to assure that building and fire regulations are being met to protect the safety, health, and welfare of residents. In addition, the Building Department, along with the Fire District, conducts annual business life safety inspections. The department maintains records of all building-related issues, as well as responds to questions on drainage and/or concerns presented by builders, attorneys, engineers, and citizens. The Building Director is the Insurance Service Officer for the Village and provides information to mortgage companies and realtors for flood information. The Building Department works closely with the Village’s consulting engineering firm and in-house engineer during inspections and on the Village drainage system.

Building News & Highlights

Ike-Disaster Recovery-Housing Repair/Rehabilitation
and Reconstruction Program
The State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering the Ike Disaster Recovery-Housing Repair/Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program to residents who sustained and still have significant damage to their single-family homes caused by the federally declared flooding disasters of 2008. The program is a competitively funded program designed to primarily benefit low-and-moderate income persons in Illinois. To be eligible for the grant, residents must have a total household income (which is the total earnings of everyone in a household 18 and older) that meets the federal housing income guidelines listed in the chart below.

Family Size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people
Total Household Income	$41,900	$47,900	$53,900	$59,850	$64,650	$69,450	74,250

In addition to the income requirements, homes must have at least $10,000 of damage caused by the flooding of 2008 needing to be repaired.  Damage designations are based on FEMA damage assessment data or homeowner’s insurance damage assessements if FEMA forms are unavailable. 

To be eligible for the program ALL of the following requirements must be met:

1. Home must have been damaged by the disaster
2. Home must be a single family unit structure
3. Home must be located outside the 100 year flood plain
4. Home must have been the homeowner’s primary residence
5. Homeowner must have been the owner of record at the time of the disaster and continue to be the owner
6. Homeowner must have applied to FEMA for disaster assistance
7. Household must be considered Low-and-Moderate Income
8. Home must still have a minimum of $10,000 worth of damage
   

Applying for funding will require the Village to submit a pre-application to the DCEO on the residents’ behalf.  Residents who are eligible and would like to pursue this program will need to provide all necessary information to the Village by Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Please contact Assistant to the Village Administrator Steven Bosco at 630-837-0800 ext. 5915 with any questions.

 

You Should Know

Building Permits
Building permits are required for all construction and home improvement projects, whether the work is completed by the homeowner or a contractor. Construction projects include, but are not limited to, additions, exterior repairs, demolitions, fences, swimming pools, driveways, sidewalks, patios, decks, sheds, central air conditioning, dog runs, dish antennas, furnace & water heater replacement and electrical revisions. In addition, landscaping constructed in a drainage or utility easement requires a permit. You can obtain a permit application online or by visiting the Building Department at Village Hall.

Home Improvement Day
The Building Department hosts its annual Home Improvement Day in early spring each year. This event is a great place to learn about the latest building materials and techniques, pick up home safety tips and to get permit information for your home improvement projects.