e-News: Drinking Water Week, Property Tax Appeals, and More!

City of Evanston, Illinois sent this bulletin at 05/08/2025 05:13 PM CDT

Thursday, May 8, 2025 | View in browser

Good afternoon,

Read below for information about National Drinking Water Week, free Mental Health First Aid training, property tax appeals, and more!

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💧 National Drinking Water Week

Celebrate the importance of safe, clean water and the dedicated City staff who work every day to provide it! Learn more.

Did you know? Evanston’s Water Production Bureau, which supplies water to nearly half a million people, was honored in 2023 for having the “Best Tasting Tap Water in Illinois".

Employee Spotlight: We’re proud to spotlight an important member of our Water Department team: Chemist Eleanore Meade. For the past 20 years, Eleanore has played a vital role in making sure your drinking water is safe, great-tasting, and fully compliant with all local and federal standards.

Consumer Confidence Report: Drinking water providers are required by the EPA to submit an annual water quality report known as the Consumer Confidence Report. Our water quality has met or exceeded all drinking water standards, as evidenced in this year's report.

Tune in for the Mayor's State of the City Address

Mayor Daniel Biss will present his State of the City Address on Wed., May 14 at 4 p.m. While registration is full for the in-person event, community members are invited to view the live-streamed speech on the City's Facebook page. The recorded speech will also be available the next day on the City's YouTube channel and Channel 16.

Attend a free Mental Health First Aid training

The City's Health & Human Services Department is offering free Mental Health First Aid trainings designed to help you recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. These sessions will teach you how to approach a mental health crisis with compassion and confidence. Trainings are planned throughout June, July, and August. Register to attend today.

Submit your Property Tax Appeals by May 21

Property owners can appeal their assessments with the Cook County Assessor’s Office through May 21, and are encouraged to do so online.

Need help filing? Attend an in-person appeal event: May 12 or May 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Morton City Hall, 909 Davis St. One-on-one assistance will be provided. Can’t attend? Submit an Appeal Authorization Form by May 14 to have your appeal filed for you.

Property Tax Assessment Review Office services: Residential property owners can schedule an appointment time (Monday, May 12, or Tuesday, May 20) to receive assistance submitting appeals and applying for missing exemptions. Appointments are prioritized, but walk-ins are welcome.

🐦 Saturday is Spring Migratory Bird Day

Join us in celebrating how important and incredible birds are to our community and take action to protect them where we live.

Help protect our bird during spring migration: As millions of birds pass through Evanston on their journey north, you can help protect them from deadly building collisions by turning off non-essential lights between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. For more tips and to track migration, visit birdcast.info.

Celebrate our feathered friends: Sign up to learn How to Bird or to go Birding By Boat with our Parks & Recreation team. You can also participate in the Illinois Spring Bird Count, learn how to Draw Birds with the Field Museum, or visit our Birdwatching Resources page.

More News and Events

🚗 Reminder: Seniors-Only DMV now at Levy Senior Center

The Secretary of State's Seniors-Only DMV is now located at the Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., serving adults 65+. No appointment is needed and the hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Services include Real ID, driving tests, licenses, IDs, vision tests, and more. Visit the ILSOS website or call the DMV directly at 800-252-8980 and press 2.

♻️ Are you recycling correctly? Cart-tagging begins this June

To reduce recycling contamination, the City will conduct its annual cart-tagging in the Tuesday collection area from June through July. Crews will inspect recycling carts and leave “Oops Tags” to educate residents about items that don’t belong. Not sure if something is recyclable? Check out our new waste directory tool, Recycle Coach, to help you quickly check.

❤️ May is "Frontline Worker Appreciation Month"

Mayor Biss has proclaimed May as "Frontline Worker Appreciation Month" in Evanston to honor essential workers. In partnership with the nonprofit Frontline Builders, nearly 28,000 goods from national brands will be donated to local frontline workers in the Evanston community.

💧 A reminder about lawn irrigation limits

Lawn irrigation restrictions are in effect from May 15 to September 15. During this period, irrigation is allowed on odd-numbered dates for odd addresses and even-numbered dates for even addresses, with no irrigation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Garden watering is exempt.

📅 Join in for the Aging Well Expo tomorrow

This free event will take place on Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Levy Senior Center, offering resources on health, wellness, safety, nutrition, financial planning, and more, along with free fitness and art classes. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

Community Calendar

Meet some of our firefighting heroes! 🔥

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Sunday was International Firefighters’ Day! Check out a video highlighting some Evanston Fire Department members and learn why they chose to become firefighters in our awesome city. Next time you see these local heroes out and about, make sure to thank them for their service.

That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

The City of Evanston Communications Team

Morton City Hall

909 Davis St., Evanston, IL 60201
847-448-4311

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