Public Works is Working For You!
Information to keep in mind
The Public Works Department handles water distribution, wastewater collection, stormwater collection and detention; handles maintenance of most public streets and sidewalks, including snow removal; maintains traffic signals, traffic control signs and street signs; maintains the Village's fleet, buildings and grounds. The Public Works Department plans and oversees infrastructure construction projects such as water main replacements, sanitary sewer line reconstructions, and street overlays.
Public Works takes great pride in the jobs we do quickly and safely.
For more information, please feel free to contact the Public Works Department at (708) 335-9600, extension 200.
- Vehicles should be removed from the street after a snowfall of 2” or more (so snow plows can effectively reach the entire width of the street for snow removal).
- It is impossible to avoid pushing snow into private driveways when plowing. To avoid frustration, please wait until Public Works has cleared the roadway of snow before finishing the end of your driveway. (The Village will not clear snow from private driveways).
- Keep children safe. To avoid injury, teach youngsters to stay a safe distance away from the edge of the roadway to avoid contact with the snowplow.
- Do not deposit snow into the street as it may freeze and cause a danger to drivers and emergency responders.
- Set your garbage cans away from the roadway on snow days (after snowfall of 2” or more); remember to retrieve cans as soon as they are emptied to avoid clutter.
- Inspect your curbside mailbox for proper construction and placement away from the curb. Posts should be of 4’ X 4” durability and strength. (The Village is not liable for mailboxes damaged during snow plowing).
2600 W. 170th Place (near corner of California Avenue and Kaindl Street)
In order that we may operate the facility effectively, the following guidelines have been implemented. Please help us continue to make this a successful operation.
Hours of Operation
YARD WASTE WILL BE ACCEPTED DURING THESE HOURS ONLY!
Wednesday:
8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Material Allowed
Only grass clippings, leaves and small hedge clippings will be allowed at the site. No tree branches of any kind will be accepted at the Compost facility.
Who Can Use the Facility
Any Hazel Crest resident with a valid village vehicle sticker. This is to prevent others from using your compost facility as well as allowing us to effectively monitor and measure the amount disposed of as mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Method of Disposal
PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT ALLOWED! You may bring yard waste in plastic bags but you may not leave them. Most residents either bring yard waste in trash cans or biodegradable paper bags. Either of these methods is acceptable.
Download the 2019 Compost Schedule
2019 Compost Dates are as follows:
Composting Re-Opens: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 (weather permitting)
Wednesdays: 8:00am til 4:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am til 4:00pm
Close Dates
Saturday, December 7, 2019 (weather permitting)
Have a question or just like more information?
Give us a call at 335-9600 ext. 200.
2600 W. 170th Place (near corner of California Avenue and Kaindl Street)
Have a question or just like more information? Give us a call at (708) 335-9600 ext. 200.
When temperatures drop, your pipes are at a high risk to freeze & burst. During extreme cold, Public Works recommends a few common sense measures to keep pipes warm & water running:
- Keep garage doors closed to prevent loss of heat, especially if you have water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
- Let cold-water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature day & night.
- If you plan to be away during cold weather, leave on heat setting temperature no lower than 55° F.
- Purchase pipe insulation & wrap pipes.
- For the long term, add insulation to attics, basements, & crawl spaces. Insulation will maintain higher temperatures in those areas.
- If you have a water meter behind a panel in the wall, open the panel so the meter can get heat, or it can freeze and cause water damage.
Tree Removal and Tree Trimming will take place all year round, including during the winter months.
Tree Removal Form
Tree Trimming Form
Help keep storm grates clear of debris
The Public Works Department needs the help of residents in keeping storm grates clear of debris in order to prevent flooding.
Storm grates are located in the curb, in front of or alongside your home. Every effort is made by Public Works personnel to keep these grates clean. However, during the spring and fall, seeds and leaves fall just as quickly as the storm grates can be cleaned. The Village is asking that you please remove debris around storm grates closest to your home to provide the best possible storm water drainage for your neighborhood. This is especially important in the event of a heavy rainfall.
Residents caught dumping pollutants into municipal storm sewers can now be fined up to $750. Anyone caught pouring oil, grease, paint, chemicals, trash, fertilizers, or other pollutants into the storm sewer system will be ticketed and severely fined.
The purpose of the ordinance is to protect the municipal storm water system and the environment. Everything that goes into storm drains winds up in our creeks, streams and lakes, which then become polluted. A Village ordinance gives Public Works employees the authority to conduct inspections, surveillance and monitoring procedures, and also to issue tickets carrying heavy penalties.
Public Works has the ability to trace back where pollutants originated. Village officials ask the public’s help in identifying violators. Residents who witness someone pouring pollutants into the sewer system are asked to immediately call the Public Work Department at (708)335-9600, Ext. 200.
Buy a tree; Village plants it for free!
Hazel Crest’s annual Fall Tree Planting Program allows residents to buy a tree through the Village and have it planted by Public Works for free—but only along a homeowner’s parkway.
The Village no longer offers the option to have Public Works plant the tree in any part of the yard. Only parkway planting is free. If a resident wishes to purchase a tree for planting somewhere other than the parkway, the Village will only deliver the tree. The resident is responsible for moving the tree to the desired location and planting it. If the homeowner is planting the tree, please call J.U.L.I.E. (811 or 800-892-0123) so that utility lines can be marked before digging.
Applications to purchase a tree through the Village must be completed and returned with payment to the Municipal Center. A notice will be posted on the Village’s Cable Channel HCTV4 when tree packets are available for pickup at the front desk of the Municipal Center. For more information about the program, call 335-9600, Ext. 200.
This is a separate program provided by the private hauler, Homewood Disposal Service. The collection occurs weekly on Monday which is your regularly scheduled day. The intent of this program is to help residents protect the environment by responsibly recycling branch debris. This program excludes: tree trunks, whole bushes or root balls.
Specific guidelines of the program are listed below:
- Branch bundles should be easy to lift by one person.
- Individual branches must not exceed three inches (3") in diameter.
- Each bundle should not exceed one foot in diameter and less than 4 feet in length.
- Pre-paid stickers are not required to be placed on each bundle.
- Branch bundles properly sized and securely tied with biodegradable natural twine should be placed at the curb in front of residence for collection.
Note: The Bundled Branch Collection Program is separate and does not replace the Homewood Disposal Yard Waste Program (grass clippings and leaves). Residents are required to place pre-paid yard waste stickers on each 33-gallon biodegradable yard waste bag.
Christmas Tree Collection
Homewood Disposal Service annually collects Christmas trees during the first two weeks in January. Please place your Christmas trees at the location of your regular collection pickup. Trees must be devoid of any ornaments, tinsel, garland or plastic/fabric bag wrap. Other holiday decorations, such as wreaths and garland may be bagged with garbage and set out as refuse.
Effective April 1, 2019, Residents in single family detached dwellings, can dispose of up to two (2) televisions/monitors per year of any size at no additional coast. Items should be placed at the curb in front of the home for collection. Village residents are required to contact Homewood Disposal to schedule collection of the televisions / monitors along with any other e-waste material they may have.
- Each household is limited to two TV's or monitors per calendar year.
- Residents must contact Homewood Disposal to schedule an e-waste pick up.
- Additional e-waste will be collected with a Scheduled TV/monitor collection.
E-waste must be placed at the curb in front of residence. Call 708. 798.1004 to schedule.
Residents are invited to purchase trees for their property - with the Village splitting the cost. To see a list of trees, prices and terms of the program, click here. Deadline to apply & pay is Tuesday, September 3rd.