Spring is here, so there's more time to think about snow policy
It may be spring now, but Bruce Gartzke still has winter on his mind.
The South Elgin resident has been poring through snow-related tickets issued by village police.
Gartzke has spearheaded an attempt to convince trustees to change the village's snow policy for his neighborhood.
Sandhurst townhouses have one-car garages, with room behind them to only park one more car. When it snows more than 2 inches, residents risk a $30 ticket from the village or getting their car towed for $150 by the homeowner's association.
This was especially painful over the New Year's Eve holiday when it snowed and dozens of tickets were doled out because people spent the night.
So Gartzke is hopeful the village will allow an even-odd parking schedule when it snows.
Trustees in February were cool to the idea, fearing it would set a precedent.
The numbers seem to back up Gartzke's idea.
Of the village's 7,000 dwelling units, about 3 percent are in the Sandhurst townhome complex.
From Nov. 1 through March 8, about 26 percent of snow-related tickets were issued in the Sandhurst area, he said.
"We definitely are getting a disproportionate share of tickets," said Gartzke, who plans to bring his finding to village leaders later this month. "I'm not giving up."
Stay tuned.
Close to 'Hizzoner'
Bill Daley, former U.S. secretary of commerce and brother of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, will kick off the Elgin Area Chamber's Centennial Speakers Series at noon Wednesday at The Centre, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin.
He currently is the Chairman of the Midwest for JP Morgan Chase & Co., and he will be speaking on "The Changing Landscape of Politics and Our Economy."
Chamber leaders were pleased to launch their series with a marquee name.
"Our series will give the community an opportunity to experience and learn from remarkable individuals who have changed the world and shaped our lives," said Carol Gieske, the chamber's vice president of communications and special events.
Daley's presentation will incorporate many of the forces influencing today's economy, such as investment banks, NAFTA, interest rates and regulation.
The luncheon is open to the community with reservations required and made online at www.elginchamber.com.
Admission is $35 for chamber members and $50 for non-members. For more information, call (847) 741-5660.
If you like music instead
You could head on out April 20 to hear the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Brass Choir perform its annual concert "Ignite" with the Illinois Brass Quintet. Students will perform pieces by Fisher Tull and Eric Ewazen.
The 2:30 p.m. concert will be at Blizzard Theatre in the Elgin Community Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Call (847) 841-7700.
Tickets for the concerts are $19, $12 seniors and $10 students and can be bought at the ECC box office, by phone (847) 622-0300 or online at www.elgin.edu/arts.