s Public Work History

Public Works History From 1901 - 2005

The Northbrook Public Works Department traces its origins to 1901, at which time the Village was incorporated and certain public works tasks became a function of the newly created Village of Shermerville.  At that time, elected Trustees assumed responsibility for many of the physical tasks of managing the community. In their role as Commissioners they were paid for their laboring efforts. In that era of self-sufficiency with limited government intervention and few social programs, virtually all services were handled contractually. Interestingly, many of the community's needs, concerns and demands for service have a common thread and in some instances, have seemingly changed little during the past 105 years.  Selected anecdotal milestones in this Department's growth are noted below.


  • 1903 - The first part time employee hired to light street lights and first snow plow was purchased.
  • 1911 - The first oiling of streets was authorized to control dust and first gas mains authorized.
  • 1912 - The first two electric street lights were authorized for Waukegan and Shermer Roads.
  • 1915 - A 1,345-foot deep municipal well was drilled on the Village lot at First and Walters.
  • 1916 - The first segment of a municipal water system was constructed including 19,433 feet of cast iron 4", 6" and 8" water mains and 23 fire hydrants at a cost of $20,332.  The work was completed by 1917.  The first formal water bills went out at the rate of  20¢ per 1,000 gallons in 1918.
  • 1920 – A special assessment for the first “hard roads” was approved 186 to 36 at a cost of $20,000.
  • 1921 - The Village advertised for plans and specifications for building a sanitary sewer system.
  • 1928 - Began purchasing Lake Michigan water from Glencoe and decommissioned well.
  • 1933 - The first full-time Street and Water Commissioner, Al Werhane, was hired at $180 per month. He served until his death in 1954. Full time public works staff had increased to 3 by 1950.
  • 1934 - Planting of elm trees on parkways was completed by the Civil Works Administration.
  • 1942 - Village population was 1,800.
  • 1947 - The first mechanized sewer cleaning machine/trailer was approved at a cost of $1,243.65.
  • 1950 - The water rate was 50¢ per 1,000 gallons and the entire Village Budget was $124,040.
  • 1953 - Full-time public works employees worked a 44 hour week at a rate of $1.50 per hour.  Construction of a 500,000 gallon elevated water storage tank was discussed and tentatively approved.  It was the largest of its type in the country in that era.  The Village purchased the land to build the water tower for $2,500 and retained Chicago Bridge and Iron to construct the tower at a cost of $118,300 with $63,353 of related water main improvements.
  • 1954 - Lowell Mueller, the part time Fire Chief was appointed Director of Public Works.  He remained in that position until late 1966 at which time, the Department had grown to 24 full time workers.  The first Village Manager, Howard R. Gohlke, was hired.
  • 1955 - The Village's first salt/sand spreader was purchased at a cost of $600.
  • 1956 - A referendum authorized $947,000 in general obligation bonds for a new Village Hall, Public Works Garage, remodeling of the Fire Station and construction of the Cherry underpass. 
  • 1960 - The Board retained a consultant to prepare a feasibility for the Village to operate its own water treatment plant.  The first trial of 2-way radios to facilitate better communications was authorized and the first front-end loader with a snow blower was approved at a cost of $14,907.
  • 1963 - Bob Weidaw was hired as Village Manager.  He remained in that position until April 1990.  Northbrook became the only off-shore community with its own water intake and filtration plant.
  • 1967 - Ralph Peifer was appointed as Director of Public Works.  He remained in that position until his death in October 1977 at which time the Department had grown to 49 full time workers.
  • 1970 - The first commuter parking lot (west of the tracks) was completed at a cost of $22,985.
  • 1973 - A 6 MGD addition to the Water Plant was authorized at a cost of $1,636,000 and the Village executed a water system interconnection agreement with Glenview.
  • 1976 - With seed money from the Civic Association, a cost sharing tree planting program was initiated.  The Board authorized application for federal funds for sanitary sewer rehabilitation.
  • 1977 - Jim Reynolds, Assistant Director, hired in 1967, was appointed as Director of Public Works.
  • 1980 - Purchased building and property at 655 Huehl Road for development into a Public Works Center, moving in during June, 1981.  First annual leaf collection using biodegradable bags.
  • 1983 – 1984 Cable TV system construction starts.  First computers acquired in late 1984.
  • 1985 - 23,000 foot of 30" crosstown water main designed and installed.
  • 1990 - John M. Novinson, hired in 1975, was appointed Village Manager
  • 1991 - Successfully negotiated first collective bargaining contract with Local 150.
  • 1992 – 1994  Constructed a 30” raw water main from the Lake to the treatment plant; installed a new 6,400-foot long 48" intake system; expanded and modified the Lake front pumping station; installed Zebra mussel controls; and expanded the treatment plant capacity to 20 mgd.
  • 1995 – Negotiated water sale agreement to serve Mission Brook Sanitary District.  First limited use of e-mail.
  • 1999 – Converted fuel tank and began using ethanol gas (E-85) in selected vehicles.
  • 2000 - Published nationally recognized, award-winning Gems of Northbrook tree booklet. 
  • 2001 - Began design and construction of $2 million river stream bank improvements.
  • 2004 - Repaired historic 24” water main break at Dundee at Lee.
  • 2005 – Assumed ownership and maintenance of the North Northfield Cemetery on Dundee Road and a portion of the old Northfield Township – Shermer/Winnetka sanitary sewer system.