About the Gurnee, Illinois Area 

HISTORY 

The first settlers came here from the town of Warren, New York, in about 1835 and named the area Warren Township. They lived in a community house near the O'Plaine (Des Plaines) River until they were able to build their log homes on farmland obtained by land grants from the U.S. government. The first school, O'Plaine School, was built in 1840 on the present site of the fire department. Then the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad was built through the area in 1873. The station, post office, and town were named Gurnee, after Walter S. Gurnee, former Mayor of Chicago and member of the railroad's board of directors. 

"Mother Rudd's Tavern" was a major stage coach stop between Milwaukee and Chicago; a stop for the western farmers taking their crops to Little Fort (Waukegan) to barter goods or to ship out of the harbor port of Lake Michigan. The oldest house in the area is now owned by the Village of Gurnee for historical preservation. 

Incorporated in 1928, Gurnee has had just 7 mayors in its history, including one who served just one year. This stability has occurred with all other elected and appointed officials. In 1972, Gurnee appointed its first full time administrator. Elementary education has grown from a one-room school to a three-school system.Warren Township High School was built in 1917-18 and opened with 57 pupils in attendance. After a disastrous fire in late 1985, the school has been completely rebuilt. The current enrollment is approximately 3,800 students. 

Six Flags Great America Theme Park offers wholesome family entertainment and draws approximately 3 million guests annually. Great America also provides 3,000 part-time summer jobs. Great America generates substantial revenue for all taxing bodies which has helped improve services while maintaining a favorable tax rate. Revenues produced from sales tax make substantial improvements: sidewalk programs, blacktopping of streets and municipal buildings. 

Click Here to Search Gurnee Homes for Sale 

Click Here to view Gurnee Bank Owned and Gurnee Foreclosure Homes 

VILLAGE GOVERNMENT
Village Hall 325 North O'Plaine Road (847) 599-7500
Hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday - Night drop available for water bills 

Meeting Schedules
Regular Village Board 1st & 3rd Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
Village Board Committee of the Whole 4th Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
Planning Commission 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Zoning Board of Appeals As Needed 

Mayor Kristina M. Kovarik
Village Clerk MaryJo Kollross
Village Trustees
Jeanne E. Balmes
Ray Damijonaitis
Lyle Foster
Greg Garner
Patrick Perry
Hank Schwarz
Administrator James T. Hayner 

Telephone Numbers:
Village Hall (Voice) (847) 599-7500
TTY (Hearing-Impaired) (847) 623-7730
Building & Engineering Departments (847) 599-7550
Police Department
Non-Emergency (847) 599-7000
Emergency 9-1-1
Fire Department
Non-Emergency (847) 599-6600
Emergency 9-1-1
Rescue Squad - Paramedics 9-1-1
Public Works (7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. M-F) (847) 599-6800
POLICE DEPARTMENT
100 N. O'Plaine Road 

Emergency Phone 9-1-1
 

Non-Emergency (847) 599-7000 

Police Chief Robert D. Jones
 

Deputy Police Chiefs Terri Kincaid & Kevin Woodside 

The Gurnee Police Department provides 24-hour patrol and emergency response within the Village limits. The department is staffed with a chief, 62 sworn and 27 civilian personnel performing functions such as communications, records, and other secretarial duties. Modern equipment, including mobile data terminals in patrol cars, assists officers with their duties. Community Service Officers improve relations between the Police Department and residents.
Parking on Village Streets - No parking is allowed on any street between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Residents should call the Police Department if a parking problem arises. The police will discuss the problem with the resident and, hopefully, a solution will be discovered. No vehicle may be parked on any street or in any alley in the Village within 12 hours of a snowfall of more than 2 inches or until the snow has been thoroughly removed.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
4580 Grand Avenue & 6581 Dada Drive
Non-Emergency (847) 599-6600
Emergency 9-1-1
Rescue - Paramedics 9-1-1
Fire Chief Fred Friedl 

The Fire Department is headed by the Fire Chief and consists of an Administrative Officer, a Fire Marshal, a Training Officer, three Captains, nine Lieutenants, thirty full-time Civil Service, six contractual Firemedics, one paid-on-call firemedic, three civilian inspectors, four chaplains, and two support personnel. All of these people work together to provide 24-hour protection to the Village of Gurnee. The fire department services the Village and surrounding Warren Township, approximately 48,000 residents. Its equipment and facilities are of the highest quality. The department is proactively involved in areas such as Fire Prevention, Public Education, CPR and First Aid Training, Dive Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Underground Rescue, Firefighter Training, Knox Boxes for the disabled, and Gurnee Days. 

Emergency Rescue - The Fire Department provides 24-hour emergency rescue and mobile intensive care unit service. 

For emergency service call 9-1-1. When calling for help for police or fire, please give the following information: Location of accident, type of injuries, and call back phone number. 

EMERGENCY SIRENS
Emergency sirens are activated in time of life threatening emergency as a warning to residents. The siren will consist of a loud continuous sound lasting three minutes or may be used to broadcast a voice message to residents.
When you hear the siren:
· DO NOT call Police or Fire phones - these lines are needed to handle the emergency.
· DO turn your radio to WKRS (1220 AM) or WXLC (102.3 FM) to get information.
· DO observe local weather conditions and prepare to take action if necessary.
· Only call emergency numbers should you experience an emergency and need help.
No all clear signal is given. Siren testing is conducted on the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Building Safety Division
Engineering Division
Planning & Zoning Division
Village Hall 325 North O'Plaine Road (847) 599-7550
Building Official Dennis Wolf / Chief Building Inspector Dan Kolar / Village Engineer David Ziegler / Village Planner Tracy Velkover 

The Building Safety, Engineering, and Planning & Zoning Divisions provide complete engineering and inspection services for all areas in the Village.
Building permits are required for any construction, including home improvement projects. Inspections ensure that work has been performed satisfactorily and that building codes have been met. Call 599-7550 for information regarding the building permits process.
PUBLIC WORKS
Public Works Garage 1151 Kilbourne
Director of Public Works Gary Gramhofer (847) 599-6800 

The Public Works Department is responsible for streets, sewer, and water service, as well as storm drainage facilities and general upkeep and appearance of the Village.
Water and Sewer Service ........... (847) 599-6800
The Gurnee water system includes one ground level and four elevated storage facilities. The Village currently purchases lake water from Central Lake County JAWA. North Shore Sanitary District at its Gurnee treatment facility provides sanitary sewage treatment. 

Water Service - Customers receive their water and sewer bill every three months. Payment is due by the 15th of the month; a late payment charge is added to bills paid after the 15th. Customers who know ahead of time that they will not be home to receive their bill may make arrangements in advance and avoid late penalties. Bills may be paid in person, by mail, or customers may use the night deposit box at the Village Hall. Renters are required to pay a refundable $50 deposit.
INFORMATION FOR NEWCOMERS 

Bus Service - Pace bus service, which runs on Route 132 (Grand Avenue) and Washington Street, connects with the Northwestern Railroad in Waukegan and the Milwaukee Road (Amtrak) in Libertyville. Schedules may be picked up at the Village Hall or call 1-800-972-7000. 

Clubs - There are many active clubs in Gurnee, including Exchange Club, Lions Club, Women's Club, and very active Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops. 

Handicap Parking - Temporary handicap parking permits are available at the Village Hall. Qualified residents may pick up applications at the Village Hall. Permits are issued upon physician's completions of the form. The temporary parking permits may be issued for a period of up to 90 days. Permanent Permit applications may also be picked up at the Village Hall. 

Gurnee Park District - The Gurnee Park District, through its facilities, programs, services, and personnel, seeks to enhance the quality of life and the environment; to acquire, conserve and protect natural resources; and to provide leisure time opportunities for the benefits of its present and future citizens. The park district offers abundant recreational facilities to district residents at its primary location, Viking Park; its beach and waterslide facility at Gowe Park; and at various neighborhood parks. 

The Park District provide a full range of activities and programs including aquatics, fitness, athletic leagues, trips, day camps, arts & crafts, music, and dance. Programs and services are provided for persons with disabilities through the Park District's participation in the Warren Special Recreation Association. Special program and luncheons for the seniors are held monthly at the Viking Park Dance Hall. The Park District sponsors the Viking Park Singers, an adult chorus that performs several concerts throughout the year. Annual holiday craft shows, a family Halloween party, Oktoberfest, Italianfest, and a summer concert series in the park are also very popular. Brochures featuring recreational programs are mailed to the residents quarterly. For information, call (847) 623-7788. 

Park District Office Hours at Viking Park
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon 

Garbage Service - The Village contracts for a complete solid waste program, including; garbage pickup, curbside recycling, fall-leaf pickup, and spring & fall clean up days. The current contract is with Waste Management of Lake County. Yard waste pickup is also available.
Waste Management of Lake County (847) 395-2020 

Animals - The village does not license dogs or cats; however, Lake County requires registration of these pets.
It is unlawful to permit any dog to run at large in the Village. No more than four dogs may be kept in a home. No person shall keep or harbor any dog, cat or animal which by frequent barking, howling, yelping, or by any other noise disrupts the peace and quiet of any individual, family, or neighborhood. 

Voting Information - Residents may register to vote at the Village Hall, Warren-Newport Library, or the Warren Township Center. When registering, two forms of identification (one with a current address) are required. 

Outdoor Burning - The burning of leaves and other landscape waste is banned within the Village of Gurnee. Burning is allowed for the preparation of food, in indoor fireplaces, and in small outdoor wood burning fires. Wetland burns as required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are also permitted. Other exceptions shall be made by a special use permit only. 

Burning Guidelines:
· No outdoor wood burning fire shall be closer than 25 feet from any building structure, shed, garage, trees, shrubs, bushes, fences, or any other combustible material. Approved portable fireplaces (Weber type) area exempt from the 25-foot rule.
· No outdoor wood burning fire shall be larger than 36 inches in diameter and no more than 24 inches in height.
· Portable fire pits (defined as devices commercially designed and intended to contain and control outdoor wood fires) may be used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
· No outdoor wood burning fires shall be started or allowed to continue burning when the wind speed (20 mph or greater) will cause smoke, embers, or other burning materials to be carried by the wind toward any building or other flammable materials.
· Material for an outdoor wood burning fire shall only be clean, dry wood.
· All outdoor wood burning fire shall be attended to al all times by at least one responsible person from the start of the fire until the fire is completely extinguished. 

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