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Who's on First?
Sometimes, living in an unincorporated area can get confusing. For example, most of us identify with Naperville, but we're actually represented by the Wheatland Township Board of Trustees, the Will County Board of Commissioners, and by other officials in Joliet. Our roads and drainage ditches are maintained by the Wheatland Township Highway Department. Our property is appraised by the Wheatland Township Assessor. And our schools are in Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204.
However, because we're within 1.5 miles of Naperville's corporate limits or boundaries, we're also affected by decisions made by that city's government (City Council, Plan Commission, Transportation Advisory Board, etc.) and by how well they enforce Naperville's master land use plan (which includes us in Planning Sectors F and G).
In addition, we are in the Naperville Fire Protection District (which contracts with the city's fire department for services), but we get most of our police protection from the Will County Sheriff's Department — although, thanks to 9-1-1 services, the Naperville Police may respond instead, depending on the type of emergency and who is closest.
Nevertheless, even though it can be difficult determining whom to call, where to go, or how to do something simple like registering to vote, the NWTHA’s Officers and Board of Directors (11 elected, neighbor volunteers) will do their best to help.
While it is true that we are now experiencing fewer growing pains — because the development of south Naperville has slowed, we cannot afford to fall asleep at the wheel. Despite the slower growth, we still face more proposals for new residential/commercial developments, increased traffic, etc. For example, over the next few years, the NWTHA Board will be closely monitoring Naperville's plans to widen both 87th Street (east of Book to just east of Sunset Ridge) and Book Road (between 95th and 87th Streets) and some day there may be threats of forced annexation.
Although, the NWTHA already has accomplished a lot, we will be doing more — reacting to these and other issues — in the future. In other words, we will continue to do our best to make our unincorporated Wheatland neighborhoods even better places to live.
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When told that the North Wheatland Township Homeowners Association was completing its 33rd year of community service, a new resident decided to join after concluding that we "must be doing something right." The fact is that we have accomplished a lot since 1974, when we first became a voice for unincorporated Wheatlanders. Here are some of the highlights from our association's history:
- In the 1970s, we helped decrease the overall density, eliminate apartments/town homes, and reduce the size of Leverenz Plaza as we monitored plans for Springbrook and Brook Crossings Estates. Further, we worked with township and county officials to get four-way traffic lights and turn lanes at the intersection of Naperville-Plainfield Road and 87th Street.
- When appropriate, we have written letters and/or appeared before Naperville's City Council and Plan Commission and the Wheatland Township Board and Planning Commission, and thereby presented our members' views on new residential/commercial developments, roads, and other issues.
- With the help of our state legislators and Will County Board representatives, we have sought to maintain our quality of life in Wheatland Township — especially when confronted by quarry, asphalt plant, and landfill proposals. For instance, we successfully opposed plans for two asphalt plants, with the help of our County Board representatives and the county state's attorney.
- We have stayed in close touch with the teachers, administrators and school board of Indian Prairie School District 204 and supported efforts to secure the best possible education for our children. In fact, over the years, we have had one superintendent (Clifford Crone), five school board members (Bob Giesen, the late Gordon Gregory, Pauline Warkenthien, Owen Wavrinek, and Herman Wissenberg), and many teachers and other staffers among our NWTHA members. Currently NWTHA president, Owen Wavrinek and NWTHA member John Broihier are members of the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation (IPEF) Board of Directors, along with longtime NWTHA member and Wheatland developer Alan Fry, who chairs the IPEF Board.
- As a community service, we have sponsored "candidate nights" in conjunction with state, county, township, and school board elections and we have provided information and recommendations on school-building and education-fund-tax-rate, and township-road-construction referenda.
- We have always supported the preservation of open space, whenever and wherever possible in northern Wheatland Township. For example, we have donated funds toward the development of the Riverview (Clow) farmstead at 111th Street and Book Road, and supported the expansion of the Vermont Cemetery Prairie, both being planned by the Will County Forest Preserve District. Also, we support the passive development of the Spring Brook Forest Preserve, north of 87th Street in DuPage County.
- We have sponsored a wide variety of general member services, including special sales and discounts on lawn/garden fertilizers, grass seed, driveway sealing and paving, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, nursery stock, and power generators. And we have had NWTHA garage sales, sponsored special courses on first aid and CPR, and facilitated well-water testing.
- For more than 32 years, we have regularly published an informative (now bimonthly) newsletter and an annual membership directory, which includes names, addresses and phone numbers of members, government officials, schools, voting precincts, as well as info on area services (including baby sitters), subdivision maps, and our association by-laws.
- We have provided a lot of fun and entertainment through social activities, such as our annual Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas party, and picnic games for the kids, plus many adult events, including barbeque rib nights, special restaurant dining, comedy and theater nights, bowling, wine sharing, a road rally, and the late-summer membership picnic.
- In 2003, we introduced this web site.
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