NW suburban briefs

Des Plaines library saves

The Des Plaines Public Library board approved the hiring of outside vendors to provide payroll and accounting services. The move will save the library money compared to what it would have paid the city for those same services. The library board declined to use city services last month. The fee for payroll services provided by ProData is roughly $9,000 for 2010 - the city cost would have been more than $10,000. The fee for accounting services provided by Lauterbach & Amen LLP is slightly less than $19,000, compared to the city's cost of $20,000. Proposals from five payroll vendors and three accounting firms we considered as part of bid process. "The library will now have immediate and direct access to accounting and payroll records and other key information that will allow us to better analyze data, report trends and make sound strategic decisions," library board President Noreen Lake said.

Kennel for Arlington Heights

Plans to put a dog day care and kennel at 209-213 S. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights were heard Wednesday by a committee of the village's Plan Commission. Mark Leers of North Barrington plans to put The Dog House in a space formerly occupied by a bicycle shop. Grand Frame and Karate Studio are other tenants in the building. The business would include indoor play areas for pets but no exterior dog runs, according to village documents. The village staff recommends that, before the matter progresses to a public hearing, the owner talks to commercial and residential neighbors about any concerns about noise and odor control. The site also does not have the required parking, the report said.

Meadows building wins award

The Continental Towers in Rolling Meadows, managed by Prime Group Realty Trust, is the first suburban building to earn the 360 Performance Program designation by the Building Owners and Managers Association of Suburban Chicago. A 360 Performance Building is one "managed to the highest standard of excellence," the group says. Continental Towers is one of only two in the state to achieve the designation; the other is at 330 N. Wabash in Chicago. The new BOMA 360 Performance Program is designed to recognize commercial properties that demonstrate best practices in all major areas of building operations and management, including financial management, "green" purchasing, code compliance, and safety, emergency and disaster plans. Association members manage more than 75 million square feet of commercial office space in the Chicago collar counties.