Vernon Twp. to host Town Meeting April 11
The 173rd annual Vernon Township Town Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Vernon Township Administration Building, 3050 Main St., in Buffalo Grove.
This meeting is open to the public, and where Vernon Township Supervisor Jonathan Altenberg will provide updates about the last year regarding township operations and services, in addition to a look ahead at plans and projects to improve services for the community over the next year.
The township's Emergency Assistance and General Assistance provided approximately $750,000 in emergency rental assistance for residents experiencing financial challenges over the past three years.
In addition, the food pantry serves 175 families each month, with more than 25,000 pounds of food delivered to individuals and families in need.
To ensure a more holistic approach to mental health, the township adopted the use of the United Way 211 Referral Line, so that if an individual needs services not provided through Vernon Township, a referral call can be made to locate assistance for them.
The Vernon Township Mental Health Board was also established in late 2022, and aims at supporting local organizations that serve residents who have a range of mental health issues. The board will also look at creating new programs that may be needed to address growing community needs.
Twenty-seven community grants totaling $245,000 will be awarded to social service organizations that serve township residents. These grants are scheduled to be approved on April 13, during the next regular Vernon Township meeting.
"The township continues to work diligently to ensure our community members have the resources they need to live a healthy life, and the summary of the work our team has accomplished over the past achieves that goal," Altenberg said. "We will continue to evaluate new ways that we can best serve our residents."
Looking ahead, the township recently founded the Vernon Township Energy Resilience Commission, which includes 14 local communities that will come together to explore renewable energy sources, while establishing best practices to reduce fossil fuels and save money for communities and, ultimately, their residents.
The use of solar power is an early initiative, along with programs that will help to educate residents and identify quality energy-saving vendors.
"We invite all Vernon Township residents to attend our Town Meeting to learn more in-depth about all the services available to our residents," Altenberg said.
To learn more about services provided by Vernon Township services, visit vernontownship.com or call (847) 634-4600.