Local Government
Flossmoor is governed by a Mayor and six Trustees who are elected at large and serve four-year terms. The governing body determines Village policies, enacts ordinances and appoints a Village Manager and Village Attorney. The Village Manager oversees day-to-day Village business operations.
Flossmoor’s government is dedicated to open lines of communication and deliberation. The Village maintains a fiscally conservative tradition and high standard of accountability, exemplified by the 27 consecutive awards it has received from the Government Finance Officers Association for outstanding financial reporting and procedures and the early implementation of GASB 34. Taxes are lower in Flossmoor due to its stable infrastructure, and different branches of local government are always willing to work together in order to improve the quality of life for Flossmoor residents.
The Flossmoor Building Department comes under the jurisdiction of the Village’s Fire Department as the Division of Inspectional Services. The Building Department is responsible for enforcing various codes and works with the Director of Public Works to ensure that new construction meets engineering and zoning requirements.
Flossmoor’s Public Works Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of most of the Village’s public facilities, including water distribution, storm and waste water systems and street maintenance. Beautification programs such as tree planting, sidewalk replacement, grounds restoration and storm damage clean-up ensure that Flossmoor is always looking its best.
The Village of Flossmoor participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). This program provides federally subsidized flood insurance to Flossmoor residents who desire or are required to carry this coverage. The cost depends on the amount of coverage and the degree of flood hazard. Village efforts to improve storm water management have resulted in a 10% premium reduction for policies purchased by Flossmoor residents.
The Finance Department handles all Village finance functions, including managing the Village’s general ledger, maintaining the budget, administering payroll, collecting and distributing water bills, and producing numerous state and federal fiscal reports. It also oversees and coordinates the Village’s insurance policies and claims, and manages the Village’s human resource function. In an effort to provide the most innovative payment options to residents, the Finance Department began accepting credit card payments for over-the-counter transactions in 2004. Approximately two years later, the program was enhanced when the Village partnered with the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office to offer an electronic payment program (E-Pay) that allows residents to pay their water and sewer bills online.
In the summer of 2005, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada presented the Village of Flossmoor with its 27th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting. Of the 36,000 municipalities with populations less than10,000 that submitted applications, only 0.86% of them received the honor.
The Planning and Zoning Department oversees the growth, development and maturation of the Village’s built environment, and enforces the Village’s land use and appearance codes including the Zoning Ordinance and the Appearance Code. Responsibilities include developing long-term land use plans, evaluating development proposals and performing building permit reviews, among other tasks.
The Flossmoor Fire Department consists of nine full-time staff, 26 volunteers, and 12 part-time firefighters and paramedics who provide fire suppression, prevention and emergency medical services. The Department operates out of the station at the west end of Flossmoor’s Village Hall on Flossmoor Road, and works in conjunction with four neighboring fire departments in a reciprocal automatic aid program. If a structure fire is reported in any part of the community, the closest neighboring department is automatically dispatched to the scene. The Flossmoor Fire Department is committed to public education and conducts free home safety inspections for all residents who request them and does regular inspections of commercial buildings.
The Flossmoor Fire Department provides emergency ambulance services and emergency medical assistance to residents. The Department’s personnel are trained and certified as emergency medical technicians or paramedics and require biannual recertification.
With a highly-trained staff of 18 full-time police officers, nine auxiliary police officers and two ordinance enforcement officers, the Flossmoor Police Department is well equipped to handle the public safety concerns for the Village.
Flossmoor boasts a crime rate that is 73% below the national average. The efforts of the Police Department have helped Flossmoor earn the status of having one of the lowest crime rates in the region. Public safety programs geared toward community awareness and crime prevention, such as neighborhood watch, D.A.R.E., high school police liaison and business security surveys ensure that Flossmoor’s reputation for safety and security extends well into the future. Flossmoor’s newest community-policing program is called Electronic Community Orientated Policing (E-COP). E-COP is designed to be an electronic enhancement to the standard neighborhood watch programs, allowing police to send residents up to date crime information, and residents to likewise submit safety concerns and tips. This latest advancement in neighborhood safety makes Flossmoor an even safer place thanks to awareness and participation.
