Public Health
The Building & Safety Division strives to protect the health and safety of residents, visitors, and business owners. The sections below contain information regarding the Village Health Board, semi-annual health inspections in restaurants and retail food service establishments, animal traps, and other services related to health and sanitation.
Village Health Board
The Village Health Board meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Conference Room of the Community Development Department located at 4501 N. 25th Avenue. The board is responsible for the general supervision of the health interests of the residents. By cooperating with and promoting the enforcement of Federal, State, County, and Village regulations related to sanitation and health, the board seeks to control the spread of communicable disease and to promote high standards of general health.
Health Inspections in Restaurants and Retail Food Service Establishments
The Village conducts semi-annual health inspections in restaurants, retail food service establishments, and other businesses that handle food products. In order to provide clean and sanitary food service establishments for all residents and consumers, the Building & Safety Division requires businesses to fill-out and submit an annual Health Permit Application. To obtain a copy of the Health Permit Application, click here.
The semi-annual health inspections require businesses to comply with Federal, State, County, and local standards and codes. All businesses that fully comply and pass the inspections will receive a Village Health Certificate. Please have the Health Certification visible for the public’s viewing. For more information on health inspections, click here to access the Village’s Code of Ordinance.
Animal Traps
The Village will provide a trap, at no charge, to residents and businesses for a period of one (1) week. To request a trap, contact the Building & Safety Division. If the resident does not trap the animal within the given time frame, he/she may call the Building & Safety Division and request for an extension.
It is the resident’s responsibility to bait, set, and maintain the trap. The following information is a list of bait for each animal type:
| Type of Animal |
Bait |
| Cats |
Tuna Fish |
| Possum |
Lettuce, Tomatoes, Apples |
| Raccoon |
Tuna Fish |
| Skunk |
Tuna Fish |
| Squirrel |
Nuts or Peanut Butter |
If an animal has been successfully trapped, the resident must call the Leyden Township Animal Control at (847) 451-2777 for pick-up. If your call is answered by a telephone recorder, please leave a message that includes your name, address, and what type of animal was caught in the trap. Leyden Township Animal Control is available Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm.
- Please note that skunk traps are designed with a cover. However, if you happen to catch a skunk in a trap not originally designated for it, then the resident is responsible for covering the trap with an old sheet, blanket, or any other appropriate covering. Leyden Animal Control will not approach a skunk trap without a cover. Additionally, the covering will not be returned.
If the trap is returned to the office, residents are responsible for removing bait and cleaning the traps. For more information, please contact the Building & Safety Division.
West Nile Virus
The Cook County Department of Public Health has begun collecting and submitting birds to test for West Nile Virus for the 2009 season. If you see a dead bird, you can contact Cook County Department of Public Health at (708) 492-2650. Birds that are being reported for testing must meet the following criteria:
- Perching birds are the only ones being collected (Crows, Blue Jays, Grackles, Robins, Cardinals, Sparrows, Starlings and Finches)
- Crows must be at least 12" long
- Birds cannot be dead for more than 24 hours and must be in good condition (i.e. no signs of attack, decay or road kill)
The best way to protect yourself is to prevent mosquitoes from biting you. Here are some tips to help protect yourself:
- Avoid outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, if possible. This is when mosquitoes are most active.
- If you must be outdoors when mosquitoes are active, wear long sleeve shirt and long pants.
- Use a mosquito repellent that contains DEET. Avoid using repellents with DEET concentrations above 10-15% for children and 30-35% for adults. Always follow the directions on the label. Reapply as necessary.
- Take special care to cover up the arms and legs of children playing outdoors. When taking a baby outside, cover the playpen or stroller with mosquito netting.
- Fix any holes in your screens and make sure they are tightly attached to all doors and windows.
- Do not allow water to stand and stagnate in birdbaths, child pools, buckets and other water holding containers.
- Clean roof gutters and remove debris that may prevent drainage of rainwater.
- Keep swimming pools clean and properly chlorinated; remove standing water from pool covers.
For more information, visit www.cookcountypublichealth.org.
Bed Bug Prevention
The Village of Schiller Park deals with a large number of bed bugs infesting hotel rooms as well as community homes. The Illinois Department of Public Health provides citizens guidelines regarding how to prevent and control bed bugs.
In order to control bed bugs, clues to help identify them include:
· Bed Bugs are found mostly in apartments, temporary housing, luggage, secondhand furniture, mattresses, bedding and clothing.
· Bed bugs can survive for up to 18 months without feeding.
· Bed bugs do not have wings, are only approximately ¼ in. long, and flat to fit into small cracks and crevices.
· Bed Bugs feed on the blood of animals including people and pets, and at night seek warm bodies.
· If you see spots of blood left on bed sheets, this can indicate a presence of bed bugs, biting during sleeping hours.
· The skin reaction can be identified as inflammation and swelling around the bite, accompanied by intense itching.
Managing bed bugs can be a difficult task. Recommendations for managing bed bugs include:
· Vacuuming the bugs, and disposing them in a sealed bag or trash container as a non-toxic way to eliminate bed bugs.
· Using pesticides, such as wettable powder, however do not apply pesticides to mattresses, bedding or furniture where they will be in contact with people.
· Space treatments such as “bug bombs,” however these are ineffective against well-hidden bed bugs.
· Contacting a pest control professional is the best way to eliminate bed bugs.
Lead Law
Information on the Lead Paint Law, effective April 22, 2010, can be found here. For the safety of all residents in Schiller Park, please make sure your contractor is Renovation, Repair, and Painting certified before he or she performs any work in your home.
|