The formidable strength and broad variety of Countryside's business community bring in a bounty of state sales tax receipts. While surrounding community governments must supplant their operating funds with homeowner and/or business real estate taxes, vehicle tag fees and other city fees, Countryside's commercial base has, to date, made revenue-generating assessments unnecessary.

Independent and national chain retailers offer Countryside residents a wide variety of shopping choices. Three sprawling shopping centers, Countryside Plaza, Brainard Market and Salem Square, house a number of retailers and service providers, as do hundreds of other stores and offices located throughout Countryside. Several hotels, motels and more than 45 restaurants also contribute to the city's sales tax revenues.

The 80-acre Dansher Industrial Park situated on the northwest corner of Countryside city limits, is home to such firms as Crown Lift Trucks, Illinois Supply Co., R2 Reuse Centers, Inc., Sherman Williams, Wallpapers, Inc. of Chicago and some of Countryside's most prominent corporate citizens.

Countryside is a home rule community with a city form of government.

Mayor Carl LeGant, who has held the office since 1978, presides over the City of Countryside's seven-member Council, which includes the Mayor and six Aldermen. The City Council meets twice monthly (on the second and fourth Wednesdays); all meetings are open to the public and take place in the Council chambers at City Hall, 5550 East Ave. (just south of 55th Street).

Under home rule the Council, with input from Countryside residents and business owners, determine municipal policies, regulations and local law; budget for annual municipal operating funds; discuss and allocate funds for various city improvement projects; and address issues of concern to both residents and businesses of Countryside. The City Council is advised and supported by several committee appointees and part- and full-time municipal staff.

The city is divided into three wards, each of which elects two aldermen. Under the city form of government, only the mayor, City Clerk and City Treasurer are elected "at-large" - that is, by all voters in Countryside. All elected officials serve four-year terms.

Countryside employs a City Attorney, City Administrator, City Prosecutor, Health Officer (who oversees or administers environmental sanitation codes and inspections, and building codes), and Board of Police and Fire Commissioners.

The Zoning Board of Appeal's six members and chairperson issues permits for property use and zoning variations, and hears appeals of decisions of the City's Building Commissioner. The Plan Commission hears and makes recommendations to the City Council on all applications for zoning changes, as well as on any proposed amendments to existing zoning codes, and administers the subdivision regulations.

The Department of Public Works provide such services as brush removal, tree trimming and snow plowing. The Countryside Water Department oversees a water distribution system that taps water from Chicago, via the Village of McCook into the Department's million-gallon underground reservoir, pump house and million-gallon above-ground storage tank for distribution to users in Countryside, as well as in other unincorporated areas near city boundaries.

Countryside's Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA) is called upon in local emergency or disaster situations, and also available assist surrounding communities if needed. The 15-member ESDA team is fully trained to handle a variety of situations and is on call 24 hours a day.

Countryside Police Department Moving Toward the 21st Century

Since its inception, the Countryside Police Department has grown to a streamlined, 28-member force. The greatest change in law enforcement has been the department's rapid advancement in technology:

-Computer work stations with automated Law Enforcement Communications System (ALECS) have been installed in every office. -ALECS provides access to state and national databases and allows communication with police units in the field without using voice communication. -LIVESCAN, an automated booking system designed to reduce prisoner processing time from one hour to 15 minutes. -The Department's communications center has grown to employ five full-time telecommunicators. -Police units are now equipped with 99-channel radios, Mobile Data Terminals, moving radar and emergency lighting and reflective insignia for officer safety.

To maintain a high level of service, the Countryside Police Department has expanded in the following areas:

-A Crime Prevention Officer who is also responsible for the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and VEGA (gang awareness) programs; -Additional Investigators and Youth Officers; -Major Case Assistance Team (M-CAT) consisting of 11 communities working together on major crimes; and -Northern Illinois Police Alarm (NIPAS) a mutual aid group of 100 regional police departments.

In 1995, the Department supplemented its drug interdiction with a K-9 unit and canine "officer" Ajax. The K-9 unit has been responsible for over $2 million in drug seizures and numerous felony apprehensions.

To stay ahead of the rapid changes in police technology, education is of paramount importance. All police are encouraged to participate in continuing education, including courses through North East Multi-Regional Training, the Police Training Institute, Illinois State Police, the FBI, and Powerphone/9-1-1. Supervisory staff attend the Northwestern University Traffic Institute School of Police Staff and Command, an intensive, 10-week management training program.

What is D.A.R.E.?

D.A.R.E. is a comprehensive prevention program designed to equip elementary school children with the life skills necessary to recognize and resist social pressure to experiment with tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. By targeting children at an age when they are most receptive to drug prevention education, D.A.R.E. seeks to prevent adolescent substance abuse and thus reduce the demand for drugs.

The 17-lesson core curriculum is taught by a specially trained, uniformed police officer to provide a trusted adult role model and positive interaction between students and teachers.

Fire Protection

The City of Countryside is served by the Pleasantview Fire Protection District, which employs 52 full-time firefighters/paramedics, eight part-time firefighters, seven full-time dispatchers, and two clerical personnel. Equipment includes two fire engines, two fire trucks, two ambulances, and special operation vehicles.

The District averages about 3,300 emergency calls per year from four fire stations throughout its protection area of Countryside, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, Burr Ridge, the LaGrange Highlands, Pleasantdale area, portions of Willowbrook, and some unincorporated areas.

Public education programs include teaching fire safety at local schools, CPR classes, ride-a-long programs, babysitting certification classes, blood pressure screening, and home fire inspections. The District is currently developing programs to teach senior citizens how to prepare themselves better for emergencies.

Cable Television: Media One, Inc. (formerly Continental Cablevision) is Countryside's service provider. For information and customer service: (630) 716-2000.

Solid Waste Hauling: Countryside residents can select the waste hauler of their choice from among several local companies. The City of Countryside does not have a waste haulIng contract for residential or commercial properties.

Garage Sales: a permit (available free of charge from the City Clerk's office at Village Hall) is required to conduct a garage sale within the City of Countryside. Only one permit per residence will be issued per calendar year and the sale may not exceed two consecutive days.

Voter Registration: available at City Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesdays until 7 p.m. Registration requires two forms of identification showing their current address (drivers license, utility bill, library card, etc.) U.S. citizens age 18 or older who have resided at their present address for 30 days prior to an election are eligible to vote.

Animal License: All dogs and cats should be registered and licensed with the City of Countryside. The license is free of charge, available at the Police Department, when owners supply a copy of their pet(s) County Rabies Inoculation Certificate. Animal license and identification tags provide quick identification of an animal's owner, and proof of rabies protection, to aid in both the return of stray animals to their owners and the treatment of victims of animal bites. Dogs found without identification tags are frequently brought to the Police Department by officers or residents. Dogs are held for several days awaiting claim by owners, after which they are turned over to the Cook County Animal Control Unit. Stray cats found without I.D. tags are disposed of by Animal Control immediately.

Animal Removal: Residents with a dead or dying, wild or stray animal on their property may call the Police Department non-emergency line (708-354-6932) to get the telephone number for the City's animal control service. Fees for animal removal will be charged to the resident; however, residents are not obligated to use the City's service and may make their own removal arrangements.

Branch and Brush Pickup: provided to residents by the City's Public Works Department April 1 to October 31. Residents are asked to observe the following guidelines, and allow seven to 10 working days for pickup:

- Cut ends of tree limbs must face the street and be placed in a neat pile on the parkway.

- Tree limbs more than 10 feet in length or 4 inches in diameter will not be picked up (this is a safety precaution to protect Public Works crews and prevent damage to equipment).

- City ordinance forbids the deposit of grass clippings, leaves or other debris upon any public way within the City; violators may be subject to fine. Residents should mulch grass clippings and leaves, or bag for collection by their waste hauling service.

- Vines also cannot be picked up by Public Works crews.

- Contractors hired (by residents or businesses) to remove trees or brush are responsible for the removal of all materials trimmed or cut. City branch pickup is provided only to homeowners/residents.

Real Estate Transfer Tax: The City affixes a $50.00 Real Estate Transfer Tax on the transferring of title or beneficial interest in real estate property located within the City, due prior to the delivery of documents for recording in the Office of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. The tax is paid by the purchase of a transfer stamp issued by the City Clerk's officer after the Countryside Water Department, and either the LaGrange Highlands Sanitary District, South Lyons Sanitary District, or Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, have issued a receipt indicating that all current water and sanitary sewer charges are paid in full, as well as a statement issued from the City Clerk's office stating there are no other unpaid City charges against the real estate.

Public Library Membership Reimbursement: The City of Countryside offers its residents a 50% reimbursement (one per household) toward the cost of membership in the public library of their choice. To apply, bring your library card and paid membership receipt to the City Clerk's office at City Hall during business hours.

Outdoor Swimming Pool Membership Reimbursement: The City also offers residents 50% reimbursement (one per household, up to a maximum of $100) toward the cost of membership at an outdoor swimming pool. Health club and YMCA memberships are not eligible. To apply for reimbursement, bring your paid membership receipt and valid drivers license.

50/50 Shared Cost Tree Removal: Property owners with dead, diseased or storm-damaged trees on private property are eligible for this program, whereby the City will share 50% of the cost of having the tree removed level to the ground. "Nuisance" trees - cottonwood, willow and mulberry - are also eligible. Please contact the City Clerk's office at (708) 354-7270 for details.

Annual Spring Cleanup: each spring, the City contracts with a waste disposal company to provide to residents free curbside service for disposal of items that regular garbage services will not pick up. Specific dates and detailed information about pickup items are provided in the spring issue of the City's quarterly newsletter, "Inside Countryside."

The Countryside Recreation Department maintains and oversees seven parks. Finn Park, located at 61st Street 1/2-block east of Brainard Ave., and Ideal Park on 58th St. east of LaGrange Rd., each have two playgrounds, baseball and softball diamonds, two lighted tennis courts and two basketball courts. Finn Park also has two soccer fields.

Brancato Park Tot Lot at Plainfield and Ashland Ave., Srejma-Michalek Memorial Tot Lot at Lorraine Dr. and Forestview Rd., and Hollands Park at Seventh Ave. and Bob-O-Link Dr. all offer safe, modern playground equipment. City Park, site of the annual "Countryfest" Summer Festival, has a softball diamond and soccer fields. Countryside Playschool Tot Lot is adjacent to the Recreation Building and Playschool at 5540 East Ave.

The Countryside Recreation Department also offers a wide variety of programs, mini-classes, special events and trips for all groups. Youth programs include "Fun in the Park" and the "Look What I Can Do" parent/infant class. Preschoolers enjoy art/drawing, gym/tumbling, and ice skating classes. School-age children can participate in such sports as basketball, floor hockey, Girl's Ponytail Softball, Little League, karate and more; learn horsemanship, or ceramics; or take computer classes.

Adults can participate in various exercise, ceramics, cooking, horsemanship, dog obedience, ice skating and water color classes. Mini-classes and workshops on such subjects from creatively organizing photographs to finding the right career are also offered throughout the year.

Day trips take Countryside residents to shopping malls, sporting events, special attractions such as "Riverdance" in Chicago and the World Gymnastics Competition. Special activities are presented each Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

Playschool, for children age two, three and four years old, is also sponsored by the Countryside Recreation Department and helps children "learn through play." It operates September through May; a summer session is also offered. Two-year-olds learn to play cooperatively with others, follow directions, become more independent and confident of themselves. The three-year-old program continues these lessons with additional emphasis on enhancing attention span, with an introduction to shapes, numbers, colors, and the alphabet. Four-year-olds take on more comprehensive art projects, and enhanced instruction about shapes, patterns, colors, sounds, numbers and the alphabet.

For dates, times, fees and further information, call Countryside Playschool at (708) 482-9926.

The Recreation Department is a member of the Gateway Special Recreation Association which provides programs for mentally and physically disabled area residents. For more information about Recreation Department programs, call the Director at (708) 482-3645.

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) offers fall and spring soccer seasons for girls and boys age 4-1/2 and older. AYSO uses Finn and City parks for many of their games. For more information, contact AYSO at (630) 829-4344.

Boys and girls can participate in either the Lyons Township Little League (LTLL) for ages 6 to 12, or LaGrange Babe Ruth League (LBRL) for children 13 to 18 years old. Games are played at Finn Park and Ideal School Park in Countryside. Contact LTLL at (708) 570-5540 or LBRL at (708) 579-5669. Countryside Seniors welcomes residents who are 55 years or better. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Forest Preserve District -within the City of Countryside's boundaries are the Arie Crown Woods and Sundown Meadows Forest Preserves operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. Both well-maintained preserves have several picnic facilities; Sundown Meadows also boasts a fish stocked lake. The City has no authority in the forest preserves but does provide assistance as required to rangers and other district employees.

LaGrange South School District 105 serves Countryside residents' elementary school children, who attend either Ideal School (in Countryside), Seventh Avenue School or Spring Avenue School (both in LaGrange). Junior high school students go on to Highlands Middle School in LaGrange Highlands or Gurrie Central Junior High.

The results of Sanford Achievement and IGAP tests at all three elementary schools indicate students' high levels of mastery in science, math, social studies and language arts. The Board of Education recognizes the importance of providing children with a high quality education, and provides significant funding for a solid base of formally-adopted educational materials in all curriculum areas. Classes are small so that each child receives individual attention.

Teachers enhance "the basics" with special projects and activities to make learning more meaningful and fun, often creatively sharing with students materials from their personal libraries and collections, as well as using municipal libraries and other sources.

The schools and curriculum are not only supported by caring, experienced, board-certified teachers and administrative staffs, but also by active, involved parent-teacher organizations. Parents are encouraged to contribute their time and talents to providing a number of activities, programs and fund-raising events to provide students a well-rounded - as well as fun! - educational experience. The schools are also involved in a number of business-education partnerships with local businesses.

At Ideal Elementary School, the state-funded Project I.D.E.A.L. program has for 10 years helped three- and four-year-olds become better prepared for kindergarten. Ideal is also the designated service site for the State of Illinois' Project Success program.

Seventh Avenue Elementary School also offers children several opportunities to experience new social and enrichment activities, such as D.A.R.E., Bust Kids After School, Museum in the Classroom, Fausch Franc Reading Incentive and others. The Hinsdale Science Program has successfully turned students onto science with a hands-on approach to learning, the Prime Program uses manipulatives to enhance math concepts; and Literate Circles help children explore their world through reading.

Spring Avenue Elementary's Fresh Start Program teaches children positive behaviors through lessons developed and taught by staff members. Homework Helping Hand classes are hosted every Tuesday through Thursday to give children extra assistance in getting organized, finishing homework and brainstorm ideas in working on special projects. At monthly Snack Club meetings, students discuss school-related problems openly with the principal, learn how to resolve conflicts, and play games related to learning social skills.

Gurrie Middle School is attended by approximately 200 seventh- and eighth-graders, who consistently score well above state IGAP test averages in science, social studies, reading, writing and math. Gurrie has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and recently adopted a formal school improvement plan to meet students present and future needs. Students can participate in several extracurricular activities, including intramural and interscholastic athletics, school and community service projects, special-interest clubs, inter- and intra-school scholastic competitions, music, drama, art, student council, dances, fun nights and more.

The sprawling Lyons Township High School in District 204 serves nearly 3,000 students from 12 communities, providing a diverse and exciting learning environment. The school's century-old motto,Vita Plena, translates to "the quest for the fulfilling life" and LT's mission is to encourage and assist each student toward a lifetime process of learning and an attitude of self-respect.

LT is situated on two campuses about a mile apart. Freshman and sophomores attend the LT South campus in Western Springs, while juniors and seniors attend the North campus in LaGrange. The faculty includes 260 staff members, over 8 percent of whom hold masters degrees. The counseling and student services staff includes specialists in college/career guidance, speech, reading, gifted and special education, psychologists, social workers, physicians and nurses.

ACT scores for Lyons Township students average 23.2, well above national and state averages. The school boasts a number of National Merit finalists and semifinalists, National Merit Commended Students, Illinois State Scholars, National Honor Society members, and President's Education Award recipients. Fully 87 percent of students on average plan to pursue higher education after graduation from LT; over 400 members of the class of '96 received local, state or national academic awards, scholarships and/or honors.

More than four out of five LT students are involved in extra- and co-curricular activities, in everything from sports and special-interest clubs to the school's award-winning Lion newspaper, named the sixth-best high school newspaper in the nation, or Menagerie, LT's own literary/art magazine. LT offers more than 100 academic clubs, communication and performing arts programs, and leadership and service organizations, plus 26 interscholastic sports programs, 16 intramural programs and three performing teams. A community cable television station and radio station also offer unique opportunities for students.

Both new high school graduates and other adults in Countryside wishing to pursue higher education or vocational training have a number of options to choose from.

In addition to its high school curriculum, Lyons Township also offers 300+ courses through its Adult and Continuing Education program. Several community colleges, four-year colleges and universities are an easy commute from Countryside, including the College of DuPage (in Glen Ellyn); Midwestern University (Downers Grove); Elmhurst College; Benedictine University (Lisle); North Central College (Naperville); Wheaton College; Rosary College (River Forest); Concordia University (Oak Park); as well as such renowned institutions in Chicago as Roosevelt, University of Illinois, DePaul, Loyola, Northeastern, Chicago State and several others.

In addition to a number of physicians, dentists and other health care providers who maintain offices and facilities in Countryside, residents are served by two area hospitals: Hinsdale Hospital and Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.

Established in 1904, Hinsdale Hospital is the oldest and largest medical center in DuPage County. A designated Level II trauma center, the 462-bed facility offers a number of specialized health care and treatment services through the hospital's Opler Cancer Center, Rooney Heart Institute, BirthCare Center, Orthopedic and Spine Center, Pain Management Center, Neurological Intensive Care Unit, Sleep Lab, Paulson Rehab Network, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Behavioral Medicine Services, including the New Day Center for chemical dependency treatment. The more than 550 physicians on staff provide expert care in a wide spectrum of medical and health care disciplines.

A leader in maternity care since delivering the area's first baby in a hospital setting, Hinsdale Hospital pioneered such services as birthing rooms, Lamaze classes and lactation consultants. Expectant mothers can choose from a wide range of birthing options, with expert, compassionate care provided by a fully trained staff of physicians, nurses, and clinical educators.

Suburban Hospital of Hinsdale, just a few minutes drive west of Countryside, LaGrange Memorial Hospital in neighboring LaGrange is a state-of-the-art, 274-bed Level II trauma center. It is part of the LaGrange memorial Health System, linked to University of Chicago cardiology and oncology physicians and to Loyola Medical Center for neonatal care. The comprehensive health care system also provides such services as rehabilitation and home health care.

Other hospitals within close proximity of Countryside include Glen Oaks Hospital and Medical Center in Glendale Heights; Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove; Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village; Loyola University Medical Center in Oakbrook Terrace; Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield; and Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst.