a guide to dupage county government services4 updated 11/03/09 adopt-a-highway: • groups seeking...

Updated 11/03/09

A Guide to DuPage County

Government Services

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DuPage County Elected Officials:

DuPage County Board Chairman: Robert J. Schillerstrom

Vice Chairman: Patrick J. O’Shea

DuPage County Board Members:

District 4: Grant Eckhoff

JR McBride Debra Olson

District 5: James D. Healy

Tony Michelassi John Zediker

District 6: Dirk Enger

Linda A. Kurzawa James F. Zay, Jr.

Bob Grogan

Chris Kachiroubas Gary King

Peter Siekmann Fred Bucholz

Darlene Ruscitti John Zaruba

Joseph Birkett Gwen Henry

District 1: Paul Fichtner Rita Gonzalez Donald E. Puchalski District 2: Patrick J. O’Shea Jeff Redick Brien Sheahan District 3: Thomas F. Bennington, Jr. John Curran Michael F. McMahon

Auditor Circuit Court Clerk County Clerk Coroner Recorder Regional Superintendent of Schools Sheriff State’s Attorney Treasurer

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Dear Resident or Business Owner: When County government is mentioned, the question is inevitably asked: “What does County government do?” DuPage County provides services to over 940,000 residents and business owners that help maintain our quality of life, making DuPage County a great place to live, work and raise a family. Residents elect the County Board Chairman, nine other County-wide officials, and 18 members of the County Board, three from each of the six different districts. Numerous departments aid the elected officials in serving the community. Below is a summary of the County’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget of $480 Million:

Fiscal Year 2009 Budget by Function (Dollars in Millions) Transportation & Development $122.5 Public Safety 26.00% $96.8 20.14% Stormwater & Public Works $90.9 18.92% Facilities & Admin. Support Health & Human Services $115.1 $39.8 23.95% 8.29% General Govt. Education $14.6 $.8 3.04% 0.18% Please be assured that DuPage County Government leaders are committed to ensuring that taxpayers’ dollars are used efficiently. I hope this guide serves as a resource to the many different services offered by DuPage County.

Sincerely, Robert J. Schillerstrom Chairman DuPage County Board

For more information visit: www.dupageco.org

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Adopt-A-Highway: • Groups seeking to improve the environment may commit to

cleaning a section of DuPage County highway. • Groups select a minimum 1/2 mile section, committing to

cleanup on both sides of that section at least four times a year for two years.

www.dupageco.org/dot (630) 407-6883

Animal Care & Control: • Prevents and

controls rabies through bite investigation and rabies registration.

• Operates a shelter for stray and abandoned animals.

• Adopts unwanted animals to responsible homes.

• Rescues animals that are lost, diseased or injured. www.dupageco.org/animalcontrol (630) 407-2800

Basic Needs:

• The Basic Needs Program provides vouchers for shoes, clothing, household items and access to area food pantries and other services for income eligible households.

• Financial assistance is available for low-income and disadvantaged students through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Scholarship.

www.dupageco.org/humanservices (630) 407-6500

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Bike Trails: • DuPage County operates and

maintains 92 miles of trail systems for pedestrians, cyclists and horseback riders, including approximately 40 miles of trails on the Illinois Prairie Path and nearly 12 miles of the Great Western Trail, which follow the former Chicago and Great Western Railroad.

• The Prairie Path and Great Western Trail link County forest preserves, municipal parks and trails in neighboring Cook and Kane Counties.

• A map of existing bikeways is available online.

www.dupageco.org/bikeways (630) 407-6883

Birth Certificates: • Copies of birth certificates are available through the Health

Department for a fee of $10 and may be ordered online. www.dupagehealth.org (630) 682-7400

Building & Permitting:

• Building Permit applications for decks, patios, pools, driveways, additions and all commercial work in unincorporated areas are available online.

• All general contractors and sub-contractors working in unincorporated areas are required to be registered, bonded and insured by the Department of Economic Development and Planning.

• Building and Zoning complaint forms may be found online. www.dupageco.org/building (630) 407-6700

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Business Registration: • Business owners in DuPage County must register with the

County Clerk’s Office. • A filing fee of $5 is charged for the registration of a business

name. • Certificate of Business Ownership applications are available

online. www.dupageco.org/countyclerk (630) 407-5500

Choose DuPage: • Supports economic development initiatives in DuPage County

through business attraction and retention efforts. • Seeks a coordinated approach to economic development by

placing emphasis on cooperation between businesses and government.

www.choosedupage.com (630) 955-2090

Convalescent Center: • Provides nursing

and rehabilitation care for 360 residents, 310 of whom are long-term residents.

• Quality of staff and care consistently rank among the highest in Illinois.

• Services include an in-house pharmacy; Chaplain; resident bank; hair salon; residential garden; residential dining room; crafts, ceramics and woodshop centers; and physical, occupational and speech therapy.

• A variety of volunteer opportunities are available to help support and enhance the care of residents.

www.dupageco.org/convo (630) 665-6400

Congressman Peter Roskam talks with Convalescent Center residents

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County Employment: • The Human Resources Department manages the listing and

recruitment for job opportunities and internships under County Board jurisdiction.

• Positions currently available with the County, Court Services and Health Department are posted on the internet through the job openings link.

• Employment applications are available on the County website. • DuPage County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. www.dupageco.org/hr (630) 407-6300

County Highways:

• The DuPage County Division of Transportation maintains approximately 220 miles of arterial highways and 92 miles of multi-purpose trails in DuPage County.

• The Division is responsible for issuing permits for overweight or overdimension vehicles and for anyone proposing construction or an event within the County Highway and Trail system.

• DuPage County Highway System maps and permit information are available online.


County Jail: • The DuPage County Jail

provides custody of individuals awaiting trial, serving sentences of up to one year, or sentenced to periodic imprisonment.

• Visitation hours for male inmates are from 8:00-10:30 a.m. and 1:00-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Sunday.

• Visitation hours for female inmates are from 8:00-10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and from 8:00-10:30 a.m. and 1:00-3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

www.dupageco.org/sheriff (630) 407-2000

DuPage County Jail

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Crime Prevention: • A variety of programs and

services which meet the needs of residents and keep the community safe are of-fered through the Sheriff’s Office.

• Residents may report tips regarding criminal ac-tivities to Crime Stop-pers while remaining anonymous.

www.dupageco.org/sheriff (630) 407-2000

C.R.I.S.:

• Community Resource Information Systems (C.R.I.S.) provides basic information on over 1,400 social service agencies in DuPage County.

www.dupagecris.org (630) 407-6500

Death Certificates:

• Copies of death certificates are available through the Health Department for a fee of $12 and may be ordered online.

www.dupagehealth.org (630) 682-7400

Deeds & Titles:

• Deeds, titles, mortgages and other property documents are available in person and online for a small fee through the Recorder’s office.

www.dupageco.org/recorder (630) 407-5400

DuPage Rx:

• Helps consumers save money on prescription medications that are not covered by insurance.

• Savings average 20% depending on the drug and quantity purchased. • DuPage Rx cards may be used by all County residents regardless of

age, income or healthcare coverage. • A list of card distributors may be found online. www.dupageco.org/cobrd (630) 407-6500

Sheriff’s Office

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Emergency Preparedness & Response: • Preparedness, response, and

recovery efforts to natural and technical disasters, including acts of terrorism, are coordinated by the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

• Residents wanting to become a volunteer in a Citizen Corps group can find a referral to a group in their area through www.citizencorps.gov or use the Citizen Corps link on www.protectdupage.org.

www.protectdupage.org (630) 682-7925

Employment Services: • WorkNet DuPage Career Center offers job search, résumé, cover

letter, interview and career exploration workshops. • Service cards are free of charge and provide residents with free

access to internet and résumé templates, copy and fax machines, a laser printer and job search libraries.

www.worknetdupage.org (630) 955-2030

Energy Assistance:

• The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assists eligible households in paying for winter heating services.

• The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program improves energy conservation for income eligible households through sealing cracks, insulating walls and attics, and repairing windows, doors and furnaces.


Food Inspection:

• The DuPage County Health Department certifies and inspects all restaurants and food vendors to ensure sanitary conditions.

• Concerns may be reported to the Health Department. www.dupagehealth.org (630) 682-7400

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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests: • Residents may request copies of County Records by completing a

FOIA application online. • Fees may apply to the costs of copying or mailing requested

materials. • Residents denied access to inspect or copy any public record may

appeal the denial. Instructions on how to appeal are available on the County website under Freedom of Information requests.

www.dupageco.org (630) 407-6300

Geographic Information Systems:

• Provides accurate information for new survey and engineering work.

• Paper and digital maps of land in DuPage County may be purchased through the County Clerk’s office.

• Current and historical aerial maps may be purchased through the Division of Transportation.

gis.dupageco.org/parcelapp (630) 407-5500

Government Accountability: • Concerns about the use of County resources and operations can be

reported to the Audit Hotline. • Consumers and businesses may also report fraud or unfair business

practices to the Illinois Attorney General’s office or the Illinois Better Business Bureau.

www.dupageco.org/auditor (630) 752-8348

Aerial Photo of Wheaton College

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Health Care: Services for the Uninsured • Access DuPage is a public-private community partnership that

provides medical services to over 10,000 lower income, medically uninsured residents of DuPage County. A full range of primary medical services is offered at participating physician offices and local hospitals – call (630) 510-8720 for more information.

• Other local agencies that provide primary care for qualified DuPage residents include: the DuPage Community Clinic (630) 682-0639; Addison Family Health Center (630) 628-1811; West Chicago Family Health Center (630) 293-4124; and the Martin T. Russo Family Clinic in Bloomingdale (630) 893-5230.

Community Health Services • The DuPage County Health Department protects the health of

DuPage Residents through: immunizations for children and adults (including those traveling outside the U.S.); screening for chronic diseases (including oral health); diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and STDs (including HIV); and infection and health education at public health centers located in Wheaton, Lombard, Addison, Westmont, and West Chicago.


Home Repairs:

• The Single Family Rehabilitation Program offers low-cost loans to income eligible homeowners in need of home repairs to address health and safety issues.


18th Judicial Circuit Court: • The Chief Judge oversees the operation

and security of the second largest court system in Illinois at the DuPage County Courthouse and at four Field Court locations.

• Programs include Probation Services for Adults & Juveniles, Youth Home, Drug Court, Arbitration Center, Jury Commission, Family Violence Coordination Council, Law Library, and Court Transcripts.

www.dupageco.org/courts (630) 407-8904

Juvenile Detention Center

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DuPage County Courthouse

Jury Commission: • DuPage residents are eligible for jury service once every 12 months. • On average, trials last 2-3 days. Jurors should plan for a full business

day lasting until 4:30 pm, although trials can go later. • Business casual attire is required for all jurors. • Free parking for jurors is available in the parking garage on the east

side of the Judicial Center. • Personal electronics with cameras are prohibited within the Courthouse. • Free wireless internet is provided in the Jury lounge. • Lunch and childcare are not provided for jurors. • Jurors receive pay of $10 for the first day of service and $15 every day

thereafter. • Requests for postponement of service may be submitted online. www.dupageco.org/jury (630) 407-8785

Marriage Licenses: • Marriage licenses are available in the County Clerk’s Office for a fee of

$35. • Both parties must appear in the Clerk’s Office with identification and

proof of age. www.dupageco.org/countyclerk (630) 407-5500

Mental Health Services: • The DuPage County Health Department provides a variety of services

including crisis intervention, outpatient mental health programs, psychiatric rehabilitation, adult, child and adolescent mental health services, depression services and vocational training.

• Services are provided at: the Access and Crisis Mental Health Center in Lombard (630) 627-1700; Transitional Services Mental Health Cen-ter in Wheaton, and at the West Chicago Mental Health Center.


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Natural Disasters: • The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

provides information regarding all phases of emergency manage-ment including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation of natural disasters such as flooding, tornadoes, or windstorms. Addi-tional information is available through FEMA at www.ready.gov or the National Weather Service at www.nws.noaa.gov. Links to these websites can also be found on www.protectdupage.org.

• Floodplain maps and Flood Evaluation Request forms are available on the DuPage County website through Stormwater Management.

www.dupageco.org/dec (630) 407-6700

Passports: • Applications and photos for U.S. Passports and Passport cards are

available through the Circuit Court Clerk. • The processing time for passports is 4-6 weeks for regular service

and 2-3 weeks for expedited service. www.dupageco.org/courtclerk (630) 407-8577

Property Taxes: • In DuPage County, the property tax system is the primary source of

revenue for local schools and units of government. • Property taxes may be paid to the County Treasurer in person, by

mail or online. • Property taxes are distributed to over 400 governmental entities,

with the County receiving less than 3% of all revenues.

www.dupageco.org/treasurer (630) 407-5900

Source: County Clerk

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Property Taxes - Appealing an Assessed Valuation: • The DuPage County Board of Review provides the venue where

property owners may formally appeal an assessed value if they disagree with the township assessor’s value.

• Assessment appeal forms and additional information are available online.

www.dupageco.org/soa (630) 407-5888

Public Health:

• Information on prevention and containment of communicable and vector-borne diseases (H1N1, Norovirus, MRSA, etc.) is provided by the Health Department.

• Various educational programs and materials are offered by the Health Department including nutrition, communicable diseases, West Nile Virus information, food safety and family planning.

• Environmental Health Services provides information regarding lead, radon, mold, and tobacco smoke.


Public Works: • The Public Works Department owns and operates four wastewater

treatment plants and six drinking water systems throughout DuPage County, providing sanitary sewer service to approximately 175,000 residents and water service to approximately 25,000 residents.

• The department assists residents with new sewer or water connections and responds and resolves interruptions of service within their various systems.

• Service area maps and contact information are available online. www.dupageco.org/publicworks (630) 407-6800

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Recycling: • DuPage partners with SIMS

Recycling Solutions, providing electronics recycling drop offs to residents free of charge in Bloomingdale, Hanover Park, Westmont, Glendale Heights, Wood Dale, Downers Grove and Addison.

• The “DuPage County Recycling Guide” is available online.

www.dupageco.org/recycling (630) 407-6700

Ride DuPage:

• Provides subsidized transportation services for eligible seniors and people with disabilities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Call (630) 407-6500 for information on eligibility. • Registered riders may call the Ride DuPage Call Center to schedule

a trip (1-800-713-7445). www.dupageco.org/humanservices (630) 407-6500

Roadway Problems & Alerts:

• To report a problem in a county roadway or trail (potholes, downed signs, animals, etc.) please call the Transportation Maintenance Department at (630) 407-6920 from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

• Visit www.dupageco.org/dot/construction to view current county construction projects or events by other entities impacting county maintained highway routes including but not limited to lane restrictions, road closures, and posted detours.


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Senior Services: • Offers home visits and helps

seniors apply for or access needed benefits and services.

• Offers confidential services to victims of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.

• Coordinates home delivered meals, in-home assessments, case management, and home visits for eligible seniors.

• Seniors needing assistance with the payment of property taxes should visit the SeniorServe program on the County Treasurer’s website.

• Subsidized taxi travel available for seniors. www.dupageco.org/seniorsvcs (630) 407-6500

Seniors Ride Free Program:

• Allows seniors ages 65 and over living in the RTA service region (Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties) free transit on fixed-routes operated by the CTA, Metra and Pace.

• Riders must have either a Senior Reduced Fare Card or the new Senior Ride Free Smart Card.

• A government issued I.D. that verifies your age and a photo of yourself are required to obtain a card.

www.rtachicago.com (630) 836-7000

Senior Property Tax Assistance: • The Senior Homestead Exemption provides a $4,000 reduction

from the equalized assessed valuation. • The Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption provides

seniors with limited income protection against real estate tax increases due to rising property costs for seniors with a total household income of $55,000 or less.

• The Property Tax Deferral Program provides qualifying seniors the option of deferring the payment of real estate taxes to the time they sell their home or upon the settlement of their estate and is offered through the Treasurer’s office.

www.dupageco.org/soa (630) 407-5858

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Small Claims Court: • The Small Claims Court hears court cases involving claims of

$10,000 or less. • Complaints must be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court, with

filing fees dependant on the amount being sued for. www.dupageco.org/courtclerk (630) 407-8700

Teacher Licensure & Registration:

• Teacher registration, certification and licensing renewal is available through the Regional Office of Education.

• Job vacancies for each DuPage County School district are listed online via the Regional Office of Education website.

www.dupage.k12.il.us (630) 407-5800

Traffic Court: • Traffic tickets may be paid online. • Various traffic court forms may be found online. • For questions regarding missed court dates, contact the Circuit

Court Clerk’s office. www.dupageco.org/courtclerk (630) 407-8600

Vendor Information: • DuPage County uses DemandStar

by Onvia to advertise business opportunities. This electronic purchasing service notifies you immediately by e-mail or fax when a government bid or quote opportunity opens in your areas of service.

• Formal bids for business with the County must be received and time stamped prior to the time and date specified in each document.

• Formal bids for purchases exceeding $15,000 are also advertised in the Daily Herald and online.

www.dupageco.org/purchasing (630) 407-6200

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Veterans Assistance Commission:

• Offers emergency assistance programs for veterans.

• Provides services to meet needs of veterans and their families, including mortgage or rent payments, medical prescriptions, food and other basic needs.

• Aids in the location and retrieval of discharge documents.

www.dupageco.org/vac (630) 407-5655

Victim Services:

• The Victim Services Unit of the State’s Attorney’s Office provides assistance to victims and witnesses of violent crime.

• Informs individuals of their rights as victims, their case status and offers counseling.

• Handles court ordered restitution and assistance in obtaining an Order of Protection.

www.dupageco.org/statesattorney (630) 407-8000

Volunteer Opportunities & Giving DuPage:

• Find volunteer and recommended giving opportunities at Giving DuPage.

www.givingdupage.org (630) 407-6500

Voter Information: • The DuPage County Election Commission administers voter

registration, absentee ballot requests, early voting programs and oversees all election procedures for over 500,000 voters.

• Candidate lists, election calendars and propositions on the ballot are available online prior to elections.

• To search for your elected officials and polling place, visit the website below and click on the “Address Lookup” link.

www.dupageelections.com (630) 407-5600

DuPage County Veterans Memorial

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Addresses

DuPage County Administration Building 421 N. County Farm Rd.

Wheaton, IL 60187

DuPage County Health Department 111 N. County Farm Road

Wheaton, IL 60187

DuPage Convalescent Center 400 N. County Farm Road

Wheaton, IL 60187

DuPage County Courthouse 505 N. County Farm Rd.

Wheaton, IL 60187

WorkNet DuPage Career Center 2525 Cabot Drive, Suite 302

Lisle, IL 60532

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County Services: (630) 407-2800 (630) 407-6075 (630) 407-8700 (630) 407-2600 (630) 665-6400 (630) 407-6060 (630) 407-5500 (630) 407-8904 (630) 407-5600 (630) 407-6100 (630) 407-6500 (630) 407-6458 (630) 682-7400 (630) 407-6300 (630) 407-6500 (630) 407-8785 (630) 627-1700 (630) 682-7925

(630) 407-8577 (630) 407-6700 (630) 407-6200 (630) 407-6800 (630) 407-5400 (630) 407-6700 (630) 407-5800 (630) 407-6500 (630) 407-2000 (630) 407-8000 (630) 407-6700 (630) 407-5858 (630) 407-8600(630) 407-6900 (630) 407-5900 (630) 407-5655 (630) 955-2030

Animal Care & Control Auditor Clerk of the Circuit Court Coroner Convalescent Center County Board Office County Clerk Court – General Information Election Commission Finance Department General County Information Giving DuPage – Volunteer Opportunities Health Department Human Resources Human Services Jury Commission Mental Health Crisis Hotline Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Passports Planning & Zoning Procurement Services Public Works (Sewer & Water) Recorder (Real Estate Documents) Recycling Regional Office of Education Senior Services Sheriff State’s Attorney Stormwater Management Division Supervisor of Assessments Traffic Tickets Transportation Treasurer Veterans Assistance Workforce Development

www.dupageco.org