Submitted by Natural Resources Commissioner Lee Haggas The typical suburban homeowner lives in thrall to his or her lawn. The mowing, the fertilizing, the aerating, the maintenance – it can all add up to hours and dollars that could be better spent elsewhere. For those ready to chuck the mower and ditch the seeder, there… Read More A Sedge for All Reasons
Submitted by the Natural Resources Commission Balloons are part of both joyous and poignant events. As happy and festive as they appear though, they’re basically flying litter just waiting to land. Once on the ground, deflated balloons can harm birds, turtles, fish and other wildlife. In recent years several environmental groups, like Balloons Blow in… Read More The Problem with Balloons…
Back in May 2020, several rainstorms led to severe street flooding. Walnut Street, between 17th Street and 19th Street, is a location that has historically had street flooding which has caused residential property damage. This location is included in the State Street Creek Watershed Master Plan. The Plan recommends adding stormwater detention where practical, as… Read More 17th & Walnut Streets Flood Reduction is a Success Story
It almost sounds like a late-night gadget commercial: this one item improves your property value, cleans the air we breathe, shelters and feeds local wildlife, becomes more beautiful the older it gets, and even fights climate change! All of this, and more, courtesy of the tree. As planting season arrives, dear reader, so much can… Read More London (Planetree) Calling
Effort Led by the Illinois State Police Few of us ever leave home without our cell phone these days. But calling 911 from a cell phone may not always provide an accurate location for first responders. That’s where the more precise location data and detailed mapping made possible by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology can… Read More City’s GIS Team an Integral Part of the States’ Next Generation 911 Project
The Holiday Season is a time for giving, and City staff embraced the holiday spirit this season. Shop with a Cop The St. Charles Police Department held its 8th annual Shop with a Cop event at the Target in St. Charles. Officers shopped for presents for children and their families, recommended from Lazarus House mission… Read More City Employees Came Together to Spread Holiday Joy
A Reminder from the Natural Resources Commission Salt helps to keep our roads and sidewalks safe in the winter and softens water in our homes throughout the year. However, over-use of salt comes with high price. Chloride from salt infiltrates our lakes, streams, and groundwater putting aquatic life and freshwater resources at risk. Some easy… Read More Smart Salting
“The Gates Estate” The last Landmark of the Month for the year is the Gates Estate, located at 217 S. 2nd Street. The home and carriage house were built by John “Bet-A-Million” Gates for his parents, Asel and Mary, as their retirement home. John Gates made millions of dollars selling barbed wire to cattle ranchers… Read More Historic Landmark of the Month
The St. Charles Youth Commission is now accepting applications through May 2021 for funding requests for the 2020/21 school year. Youth groups, schools, organizations and more may apply as they seek to support and make a positive impact on the youth of our community. While 2020 and 2021 may look different than years’ past, we… Read More Youth Commission Accepting Funding Requests
“J.P. Furnald Estate” November’s Landmark of the Month is the J.P Furnald Estate, located at 213 S. 5th Street. The property was originally owned by the U.S Government and was purchased by John Thompson as part of the promotion from the Government to spur western expansion. Mr. Thompson then sold the property to Darwin Millington,… Read More Historic Landmark of the Month