MWRD Free Rain Barrel Program

Free Rain Barrels (up to 4)- Courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. 

Available in Terra Cotta, Blue, Gray and Black.

For more information contact Village Clerk Debbie Williams at 708 753-5121 

Just wanted to clear up some rumors

On Friday evening the Sauk Village Police Department experienced radio issues at CalCom. The issues lasted approximately two hours however, disruption was minimum due the Chief Kowalski quickly implementing the contingency plan.

The Police Department continued to function during the disruption and officers had radio contact among themselves as well as the Illinois State Police Radio Emergency Network (ISPERN).

CalCom sent a technician to Sauk Village immediately and the issue was resolved. After further root cause analysis it was found that the problem was a human error not a technical issue as previously thought.

A special thank you to our Police Chief Kowalski and officers for stepping up and doing a great job during this time and while maintaining a safe environment.

October 10th "Meet the Mayor" Presentation

Below is the presentation from the October 10th Meet the Mayor. 

In September the board had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Municipal League (IML) conference. The information in the presentation is just a portion of what was taught however, these are questions that have been asked at village board and Meet the Mayor meetings this last year.

This information was provided to elected officials that attended from across all of Illinois. Over the next few months the board will be presented with recommendations for updating current ordinances or policies based on the what was taught and/or due to changes in State law. 

In addition, I have asked the Village Clerk to schedule vendors that we met with at the conference that could provided additional services for village residents to present at upcoming village board committee meetings      

Meet Village Administrator/ Public Safety Director, JW Fairman, Jr.

Mr. Fairman has more than thirty years of hands-on Public Safety experience as a Bureau Chief responsible for managing budgets of more than $150 million under the auspices of the President of Cook County Board of  Commissioners.

His experience includes- Executive Director of the Cook County Department of Corrections (Adult Detention) for Cook County Sheriff. He has also served as a corrections executive in Illinois, California and Iraq.


Mr. Fairman has conducted numerous audits of governmental facilities and in addition provided oversight to those facilities. During his tenure at Cook County Department of Corrections, he opened new facilities, developed an Audit and Compliance Unit, Legal Office with 4 attorneys which were charged with ensuring that each facility was in compliance with departmental and sheriff’s general orders as well as state, county and federal laws.

Mr. Fairman has served as an Auditor for the American Correctional Association and was selected to serve as Vice Chair of the Health Services Committee because of his vast experience in correctional health care in prisons and jails. He was selected by the University of California at San Diego’s Medical School Psychiatric s Department to be the Vice Chair of the “Forensic Addiction Certification Board’.

For 2 years, Mr. Fairman monitored an Immigration Detention Facility for its compliance with the US Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Custom Enforcement Division rules and regulations. In Iraq, he advised, trained and mentored an Iraqi General on ways to develop, build and manage that country’s Prison System.

Mr. Fairman’s education includes receiving a Bachelor of Science degree from Hardin Simmons University, Master of Science degree from Chicago State University and completion of a program for “State and Local Governmental Managers” from John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Meet Sauk Village Police Chief Robert Kowalski

My name is Robert J. Kowalski. I am 58 years old and was born and raised in a single-parent household in Chicago, IL. I have been married for 28 years to Leisa Kowalski and we have raised two sons, Adam and Matthew. Leisa has been a Neonatal Intensive Care RN for approximately 20 years and currently works at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, IL.

Our oldest son, Adam, is a 1st Lieutenant with the Illinois Army National Guard and is completing his helicopter pilot training. Our youngest son, Matt, is a junior at Downers Grove South High School and is active on the Varsity football team. We have lived in Darien, IL for 17 years.

I graduated from Quigley North Preparatory High School and received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Niles College of Loyola University. I obtained my Master’s Degree in Criminal Social Justice from Lewis University and am also a graduate of the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, VA.

I have been involved in Law Enforcement for 35 years. I started my career as a Patrolman with the Village of Forest Park, IL and worked there for 9 ½ years. I resigned from Forest Park Police Department after being selected as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After completing my FBI training in Quantico, VA, I was assigned to various FBI offices in Indiana and Illinois. I retired from the FBI in 2010, after 30 years in law enforcement.

At this time I took a position in the private sector as the National Director of Security for Career Education Corporation for 3 ½ years. My desire to return to a career in law enforcement led me to a brief position as Chief of Security with the Department of Homeland Security in Dupage County. In 2014, I accepted a position as Director of Public Safety and Security for the Cook County Health and Hospital System.

Most recently, I have accepted the position as Chief of Police in Sauk Village, IL. My official start of duty date was September 14, 2015.

I am looking forward to serving the community of Sauk Village, Illinois and being proactive in leading the men and women of the Sauk Village Police Department. I am very proud of my career in law enforcement and honored to have been chosen as your Chief of Police.

I believe, through a cooperative effort, we can make a difference leading to a brighter future for all.

Shared Services Survey Report Courtesy of Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (July 2015)

Benefits of Joint Dispatching

• Fewer personnel hassles, employee issues, and ULP and collective bargaining complications
• Highly significant cost savings
• Greater overall operational efficiency and higher level of professional service
• Better, up-to-date technology
• Single point of duty for off-duty service calls
• Quicker aid response
• A large amount of administrative work saved directly related to recruiting, personnel management, record keeping, and supervising technical employees
• Avoid delays in calling for assistance with incidents too large to handle locally

Cost Savings

Joint dispatching, instead of in-house dispatching centers, is one of the most cost-saving shared services out of all of those conducted; savings generally amount to hundreds of thousands per year

• Crete has saved approximately $250,000 per year over the last 16 years by joint dispatching
• Westchester saved $2.5 million in the first 5 years
• Grayslake saves an estimated $400,000 per year
• Countryside saved $900,000 over 5 years
• Wilmington saves approximately $400,000 per year
• Park Ridge saves over $650,000 per year
• Woodridge saves approximately $1.2 million per year

Participating Municipalities

Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, & DuPage Forest Preserve. /Addison, Bensenville, Itasca & Wood Dale Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, North Aurora & St Charles /Bannockburn, Deerfield & Riverwoods Beecher, Crete, Monee, Peotone, South Chicago Heights, Steger, & University Park
Bolingbrook, Braidwood, Channahon, Elwood, Plainfield & Wilmington Calumet Park & Sauk Village Des Plaines & Wheeling East Hazel Crest, Lynwood & Thornton /Fox Lake Police, Lake Villa Fire Protection, Lake Villa Police & Lindenhurst Glenview, Grayslake, Hainseville, Highwood, Highland Park, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Morton Grove, & Niles Golf & Cook County / Hawthorn Woods, Island Lake, Kildeer & Lake Zurich La Grange, La Grange Park, & Western Springs /Libertyville, Lincolnshire & Vernon Hills Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest & Richton Park
East Joliet Fire Protection District, Frankfort FPD, Mokena FPD & New Lenox FPD Orland Hills Fire Protection District & Orland Park Oswego & Kendall County /Prairie Grove & McHenry County /Spring Grove & McHenry County


Joint Dispatching Centers

• CenCom E9-1-1 - 11 localities
• DU-COM - 41 localities
• EASTCOM - 11 localities
• ECOM 9-1-1 - 6 localities
• Tri-Com Center Dispatch - 11 localities
• NWCD - 12 localities
• QuadCom - 9 localities
• Red Center - 14 localities
• SEECOM - 14 localities
• SWCD - 16 localities

(This entire report is available online at www.saukvillage.org)

Sauk Village Joins CalComm 911 to Provide Better Services for Residents

For years Sauk Village has sought to overhaul its current 9-1-1 system however, due to the financial state of the village, upgrades to software were not purchased and employees were performing their
duties on outdated computers and laptops that were at least 8 years old.

Sauk Village's current software was outdated and costs to bring it up to date forced us to examine alternative solutions. CalComm offered several incentives to aid in our transition to their PSAP. And due to recent changes to Illinois State law, Sauk Village would have been required to consolidate within the next 5 years to a PSAP supporting more than 25000 people, so the licensing and upgrades to our existing system were deemed too costly, if we would have to pay for another software system upon joining another PSAP.

The decision to move forward with joint dispatching was necessary as a cost savings that over the next 10 years will save the taxpayers approximately $5 million dollars and was not a reflection on the service provided by our employees. The dispatcher’s bargaining unit was given the opportunity to meet or beat the cost of outsourcing, which they were unable to do. Dispatchers were provided with an outgoing severance package and offered jobs with the new dispatch center. We thank all of our former dispatchers for the years of service they provided to our residents

As of Tuesday, September 15, 2015, all 9-1-1 Emergency Calls for Sauk Village were transfer to the new state-of-the-art CalComm 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center located at 12419 S. Ashland Avenue in Calumet Park.

Sauk Village will now have the latest technology that can handle large call volumes. CalComm is committed to responding quickly and efficiently to Sauk Village residents. The state-of-the-art technology will allow CalComm to fulfill that obligation faster and better. CalComm will operate as a Regional 9-1-1 Call Center for surrounding suburbs on a 24/7 basis.

The technology is “first in class” and capable of providing “text to 9-1-1” in a growing, wireless society. New technology means a more seamless link between 9-1-1 dispatchers and public safety responders for improved response times.

In addition, CalComm will be providing the Emergency Identification Sticker Program—Sauk Village has implemented a program to allow Emergency Personnel and Emergency Dispatchers (911) access to information pertaining to anyone having a medical disability or special need. The information is based upon address and is cross-referenced by name. Information you provide may be useful to public safety personnel responding to a request for service within the village response area.

This sticker number will contain information regarding a person's name, address, phone number, medical conditions, and medications, allergies to medications, special needs, and persons to contact in the event of an emergency. The sticker is available free of charge to any persons who reside in the village having a medical disability or special need.

In the event of an emergency public safety personnel will contact the CalComm 911 center and provide the identification number contained on the sticker. In doing so, Police, Fire, or EMS will be notified of any listed medical conditions/special needs or contact information.

Meet the Mayor

Mark your calendars 

“Meet the Mayor”

When: Second Saturday of each month

Time: 9-11am

Location: Sauk Village Municipal Center

POLICE - TASER WEAPONS & LIABILITY

In October of 2014, the former Police Chief made an “on-line” purchase of 25 Taser Weapons for the Sauk Village Police Department. In July of 2015, an Officer used one of those weapons to Taser an offender. Several weeks later the Village received a pending lawsuit request from an Attorney representing the offender.

In August of 2015, our Village Administrator learned that neither the former Chief nor his Deputy Chief had developed policies authorizing the use of Taser weapons for our Officers. After conferring with the Village’s Risk Insurance Company, they recommended the Village discontinue the use of Taser Weapons until a policy could be created. They added that policies protect not only the Village but our Officers as well.

Due to the findings, I regretfully ordered the Taser Weapons removed from use. I also instructed our attorneys to immediately have a Taser policy put in place; five days later on August 25th that happened. However, the Village is not out of the woods yet. Almost all of the Police Departments General Orders have not been updated since 2005.

It is clear that the former Police Chief and the former Deputy Police Chief have been remiss in their responsibilities to the Village and our Officers. I take this personally because of the job our Officers must face on a daily basis. We live in difficult times and everyone, not just our front line people, must do their part.

A comprehensive study of the Police Department’s policies is under review and Sauk Village has hired a new Police Chief, Robert Kowalski. Chief Kowalski, who retired from the FBI as Supervising Special Agent, will be tasked with reviewing and updating police department policies and training and insuring that effective community relations co-exist between our residents and our Officers.

I support our Police Officers and the difficult job they do - as I support all of our employees; however I will never support any person who through their negligence places our Village and employees at risk.

Mayor David A. Hanks

Sauk Village Q1-2015 Financials