STRIVING HIGHER Town of Dyer

www.townofdyer.com Volume 11, Issue 11 November 2018

November means winding down of the construction season. The last several weeks have been a challenge for many drivers. The Sheffield Ave. area has been ground zero for repairs and improve-ments. NIPSCO has been working in this area for most of 2018 upgrading its elec-tric infrastructure. They continue to com-plete pole replacement along Sheffield, Hart, and Rt. 30. The repaving of Shef-field was initially delayed from early sum-mer in an attempt to minimize conflicts with the NIPSCO projects. The street project included new sidewalks, repairs to storm inlets, water valves as well as new surface. The road work was funded by Tax Increment Financing and a grant from the State’s Community Crossing Matching Grant. These grant proceeds are a part of the new funding made avail-able as a result of the increase in the state gas tax. By the time you are read-ing this newsletter the CSX RR should have completed upgrades to the cross-ings at Sheffield, 213th, 215th, Edmond, and 77th. The 77th crossing will include the installation of gates. We are working with the CN RR to repair their crossings on Hart and Lake Streets.

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The Town Council and Plan Commission are undertaking a comprehensive review and rewrite of the town’s zoning code, including the three overlay zoning dis-tricts for RT 30, Calumet Ave., and Shef-field Ave. As well as a review of the Es-tablishment of a Transit Orient District (TOD) in anticipation of the West Lake Corridor expansion and revisit to the Community’s Comprehensive Plan and development of an updated Strategic Plan to carry out these revisions. The Town will hire a Planning Consultant to lead the process. Four qualified groups were interviewed and a selection will be

made in early December. There will be provisions for public meetings and com-ment, as we move through the process. I anticipate this project to occupy eight to twelve months of 2019.

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The Town Council, Redevelopment Com-mission and the Economic Development Commission will be meeting in November and December to conclude a major eco-nomic development agreement that will start private investment on the east side of Calumet Ave adjacent to Central Park. The Town has agreed in principal with Avenue Development of Indianapolis to construct an Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility on five acres of property east of Calumet Ave. and south of Cen-tral Park Ave. The facility will be operat-ed by Cedarhurst Living, LLC. The Town will issue $1.5 million in Tax Increment Financing Bonds that will be repaid by the property taxes generated from the development of the 20 acre development area. The agreement provides for 100% rebate of the increment on the five acre tract and 80% on the balance of the tract. The developer is purchasing the bonds; there is no risk to the Town. Proceeds from the bonds will only be used to install the needed public infrastructure to serve the entire 20+ acres. Once the bonds are paid off the Redevelopment Commis-sion will retain 100% of the revenue. We anticipate the Cedarhurst project will be the beginning of significant development in this area. The RDC will begin the pro-cess of extending Central Park Ave. from Calumet Ave. into Central Park and ex-panding the Calumet Ave intersection, including signalization.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!

From the Desk of the Town Manager

In This Issue

Tom DeGiulio

Town Council Office

865-6108

Clerk-Treasurer’s Office

865-2421

Public Works

865-4222

Police Department

865-1163

Fire Department

865-4226

Parks & Recreation

865-2505

Town Council

Town Manager

Clerk-Treasurer

Town Departments

Jeff Dekker, President

Joe Cinko, Vice President

Mary Tanis

Debbie Astor

Cathy Lareau

Patricia A. Hawrot

Social Media

Follow us for announcements!

Facebook.com/TownOfDyer

Twitter.com/TownOfDyer

Warming Center Snow Plowing Procedures Toys for Tots

Utility Upgrades Holiday Garbage Pickup Historical Speaker

Page 2 Volume 11, Issue 11

Recreation Events

If you would like to view our clas-ses, special events, pictures and other fun things to do, check out our website: parks.townofdyer.com or on our Facebook page: Dyer Parks and Recreation. Register online: parksregistration.townofdyer.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Twit-ter: @DyerParksandRec. For more information, please contact Dyer Parks at (219) 865-2505. Line Dancing Lessons- Have you always wanted to learn the simple dance steps to the latest line dances? Classes are 11/20-1/8/19 from 6:45-7:45pm for ages 14 & up. Fee: $40 Preschool Bricks 4 Kidz (3.5-5 yr. olds) - Introduce your preschooler to the fun of learning, building and playing the Bricks 4 Kidz way! Classes are 11/28-12/19 & 1/9/19-1/30/19 from 4-4:45pm. Fee: $52 Elementary Bricks 4 Kidz (5-12 yr. olds) Students work hands-on to design and build machines, buildings and other con-structions with LEGO Bricks. Classes are 11/28-12/19 & 1/9/19-1/30/19 from 5-6pm. Fee: $56

Young Rembrandts Pre-school Drawing (3.5-5 yrs. old)- Young Rem-brandts provides a nurtur-ing and strong learning environment that expands Preschoolers’ image vo-

cabulary as they draw familiar images such as fish, teddy bears, rainbows and cow-boys. Classes are 11/28-12/19 & 1/9/19-1/30/19 from 4-4:45pm. Fee: $46

Young Rembrandts Elementary Drawing & Cartooning (5-12 yr. olds- This class is designed to teach basic to advanced draw-ing skills, art techniques and vocabulary. Cartooning classes are 11/13-12/4 & 12/11-1/15-19. Drawing classes are 11/28-12/19 & 1/9/19-1/30/19. Elem. Drawing and Car-tooning are from 5-6pm. Fee: $46 Bumper Bowling (3-6 yrs. old)/Bowling (6 & up) - Bowling takes place 1/7/19-2/4/19 from 4:30-5:30pm. Fee: $32

11/17 from 10am-3pm

Chicago Christmas Lights Tour- Join us as we Transformation Creations Camp (5-12 yr. olds)- Bricks 4 Kidz Campers will enjoy the mash-up combination models that can be rebuilt into something different. Camp is 1/3/19 & 1/4/19 from 9-11:45am. Fee: $65

Cartoon Adventures in Space (5-12 yr. olds)- Join Young Rembrandts as we trav-el to the farthest reaches of the galaxy in our Cartoon Adventures in Space work-shop. Camp is 1/3/19 & 1/4/19 from 12-2:15pm. Fee: $56

Pastels: Art History with the Masters (7-16 yr. olds)- Join Young Rembrandts as you use travel to Downtown Chicago on 11/30 or 12/7 to see the lights with stops at the Planetarium Overlook, Millennium Park and the German Christkindlmarket. Fee: $47 per person

“Deck the Homes”- We invite all residents living within the 46311 zip code to decorate the exterior of their homes with a holiday theme. Pre-register by 12/13. Judging by resi-

dents will be 12/14-12/20.

Letters to Santa- Imagine the look on your child’s face when the mail arrives and he/she sees a personalized letter from Santa! Hints sheets will be accepted until 12/14. Fee- $3 per letter

Candy Cane Hunt- The 7th Annual Candy Cane Hunt is for children ages 2-8 (with parent/caregiver) on 12/2 from 1-2:30pm. Fee: $12

Super Hero Academy Camp (5-12 yr. olds)- Join Bricks 4 Kidz for fun filled days building Super Heroes with LEGO Bricks. Camp is 12/27 & 28 from 9am-11:45am. Fee: $65

African Safari Camp (5-12yr. olds)- Go on a Safari with

Young Rembrandts and explore the excit-ing land and many animals that inhabit Africa. Camp is 12/27 & 28 from 12pm-2:15pm. Fee: $56

Pastels: Pattern & Design- A World Tour (7-16 yr. olds)- Explore art from Mexico, Africa, Asia and Russia using chalk pas-tels. Camp is 12/27 & 28 from 2:30pm-4:45pm. Fee: $62

vibrant chalk pastels and have fun explor-ing art history by studying different artists and their work. Camp is 1/3/19 & 1/4/19 from 2:30-4:45pm. Fee: $62

Midwest Training & Ice Center- We offer Parkour, gymnastics, ice skating, hockey and trampoline classes. Call for dates and fees.

NEW Fitness Classes: We have teamed up with Mari Fitness to offer ZUMBA & Power Barre.

There is a Toys for Tots box locat-ed in Town Hall next to the Build-ing Department window. They are only accepting new, unwrapped toys and the box will be picked up the first week of December.

For more information, visit www.ToysForTots.org

Dyer Town Hall offices will be closed

November 22nd and 23rd in honor of the holiday!

Toys For Tots

Page 3

It’s that time of year again where we’d like to remind you about our snow plowing procedures.

Just a reminder: On-street parking is prohibited in the event of a 2” or greater snowfall. We ask for your continued cooperation in keeping vehicles off of the street during these events.

When our plows respond to a snow or icing event, their first job is to clear the main thoroughfares, such as Calumet Ave., Sheffield Ave., Hart St., and 213th St. We will then move into subdivisions and begin clearing those secondary roads, followed by cul-de-sacs.

Our plows begin by moving snow away from the centerline of the street toward the curb line, with a goal of getting as close to the curb line as possible so that vehicles can utilize the entire road. Depending on the width of the road, it can take up to three passes to clear the road.

In cul-de-sacs, we generally try to plow the snow away from the curb and toward the center of a cul-de-sac at first so that residents can get to their homes. Then, we follow that up by pushing the snow up against the most strategically available spot along the curb in the cul-de-sac. These streets can be problematic due to the limited amount of available curb area at which snow can be placed. In large snow events, we may have to haul the snow out of cul-de-sacs.

Snow Plowing Procedures

Volume 11, Issue 11

When you see some of our snow plows out this

winter you will notice a new look, V-box salt

spreaders mounted on some of our plow trucks.

We are converting our plow fleet to more effi-

cient V-boxes that will replace the old tail gate

spreaders. The new system will provide a better

distribution of salt as well as a pre-wetting sys-

tem with liquid calcium chloride to make the pro-

cess more efficient. The combination will result

in less salt being used, saving the Town signifi-

cant money as well as being better for the envi-

ronment. We are also looking into a pre-wetting

system that is sprayed on roadways prior to ice

Snow Plowing Equipment

The Dyer Town Hall will be

closed Monday, November 12

th

in recognition of

Veterans Day.

Page 4 Volume 11, Issue 11

November 13 6:00pm Park Board November 14 6:00pm Special Park Brd. November 15 6:00pm: Town Coun-cil/RDC

6:00pm: Police Commis-sion November 19 7:00pm: Plan Commission November 20 6:00pm: Historical Assoc. November 22 & 23 Thanksgiving: Town Hall Closed November 26 6:00pm: Joint Water & Sanitary Board November 27 6:00 pm Special Park Brd.

Monthly

Meeting

Calendar

November

December

December 3 7:00 pm: BZA

December 6 6:00 pm: Storm Water Board

December 11 6:00 pm Park Board

December 13 6:00 pm: Town Council & RDC Meetings subject to change. Call (219) 865-6108 for confirmation.

This month, we wanted to remind you about some rules regarding trash and recycling containers. Sec. 6-136 lays out regulations for trash and recycling containers. Con-tainers should not be placed out for pickup sooner earlier than 6:00 PM the day before pickup and should be taken away from the curb by 8:00 PM on the day of pickup. Containers should be stored as so not to be visible from the street, un-less the size of the property and location of the home prohibits this.

Garbage pickup will be one day later than your regularly scheduled pickup during the week of Novem-ber 19th due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

UTILITY UPGRADES

As you may have noticed, NIPSCO has begun con-struction replacing/ upgrading existing utility poles along RT 30 heading

eastbound between Hart Street and Great Lakes Drive. This work will take place Monday-Friday 6 am to 6 pm with possible weekend and holi-day work. The upgrade includes adding an additional 12 kilovolt (kV) power supply to each utility pole to better service Dyer. For more infor-mation on the modernization plan, please visit NIPSCO.com/future.

WARMING CENTER

As the weather starts to turn, re-member that the Police Depart-ment can be used as a warming center in case of emergency, 2150 Hart Street. Dur-ing the day, you can contact the Police Department at (219) 865-1163. After hours and on the week-ends, you will have to call 911 to make arrangements.

Come one, come all as the Dyer Commu-nity Foundation and St John-Dyer Cham-ber of Commerce host this special holiday event. Festivities run from 6pm—7pm on Saturday, November 24th at the Dyer Town Hall. There will be hot chocolate and treats. The Dyer United Methodist Church Choir and Santa Claus will be there!! For more information, call the Chamber office at (219) 365-4686.

HOLIDAY LIGHTING CEREMONY

CODE CORNER

On November 20, 2018, the Historical Society will present its last speaker for the year. Leslie Goddard will be present-ing “Remembering Marshall Field’s”. There will then be no speakers in Decem-ber, 2018 nor January, 2019. Our series will start again in February, 2019. All speakers present their programs on the third Tues of the month. Their pro-grams begin at 7:00 pm and admission is FREE!

At the beginning of 2019, we will have the schedule for the entire year. The Historical Society also has a newslet-ter put out four times a year…February, May, August and November. This is sent to all members. The dues are $10.00 and you must be a member to receive a

HOLIDAY GARBAGE PICKUP

HISTORICAL SOCIETY