About the Legal Department
The Legal Department provides legal advice and relevant documentation to Village Staff in various matters:
- Preparation, negotiation and review of contracts and agreements entered into between the Village and Other Parties for various goods and services.
The Village enters into a variety of contracts and agreements for services such as solid waste collection, intergovernmental agreements with local, county and state agencies, redevelopment agreements with developers, franchise agreements with cable companies, easements to and from the Village, agreements leasing portions of Village-owned property and real estate contracts for the acquisition or conveyance of property.
- Oversee Freedom of Information (FOIA) Requests throughout Village Departments. See "Freedom of Information Act" for Procedures and Form.
- Pursuant to 735ILCS 5/15-1503, collects a notice of foreclosure for residential real estate located within the Village of Arlington Heights. Copy of a notice of foreclosure should be sent to: Legal Department, Village of Arlington Heights, 33 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
- Ordinances and Resolutions adopted by the Village Board.
The Legal Department works with various Village Departments to prepare ordinances and resolutions presented for Village Board approval pertaining to matters such as Planned Unit Developments, Preliminary and Final Plats of Subdivision, Special Use and Land Use Permits, Code Amendments, Traffic Regulations, Liquor License, Annexation, Easement, Agreements, Acceptance of Public Improvements. If you would like a copy of a recently approved ordinance/resolution, you can contact Lynette Buechner @ 847.368.5702 or
lbuechner@vah.com
Village Prosecution for violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code, Village ordinance violations and housing violations in the Circuit Court of Cook County -Third District. The Village retains a Village Prosecutor to prosecute tickets involving traffic violations, minor misdemeanors and Code violations related to health & safety and building issues. Criminal and serious misdemeanor cases are handled by the State’s Attorney’s Office-Third District – 847/818-2810. Arlington Heights is located in the 3rd Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The courthouse is located at 2121 Euclid Avenue, Rolling Meadows, IL.
Q: I cannot attend the assigned court date for a traffic ticket. Can the Village Prosecutor give me a new court date?
A: The Village Prosecutor is not permitted to assign a new court date. You can have a family member, a friend or attorney to appear on your behalf to request a continuance of your court date.
Q: What will happen if I do not appear on my assigned court date?
A: If you missed your assigned court date and there was no one in court on your behalf, you need to contact the Circuit Court of Cook County-Third Municipal District Clerk’s Office at: 847-818-3000. The Clerk’s Office will need the ticket number to look up the ticket.
Q: I have a ticket for a minor traffic violation. What will happen in court?
A: If you plead guilty, the judge will consider input from you and the police officer along with any other evidence that may be presented, such as your driving record, in order to reach a decision and order appropriate sanctions. Some typical orders for routine traffic violations are payment of a fine, supervision or traffic safety school. If you plead not guilty, a trial will be held, usually the same day. The judge will listen to testimony, review relevant evidence and make a determination of guilt or innocence.
- Acquisition and Sale of Village-Owned Real Estate and Related Matters.
On occasions when a parcel of Village-Owned Real Estate is deemed no longer necessary for Village purposes, the parcel is offered for sale through a sealed bid process. The bidding process through closing is handled in the Legal Department. Real estate acquisitions are also handled through the Legal Department. Future sales of Village parcels will be posted on the Village website. Anyone that would like to be added to the mailing list to receive bidding documents for any future property sales, e-mail
lbuechner@vah.com and include your name and address in the e-mail.
- Preparation/Review of Documents related to Easements, Agreements, Contracts, Intergovernmental Agreements, Municipal Code amendments, Village Board Policies.
- Prosecution of Local Liquor License Violations heard by the Local Liquor Commissioner (Mayor)
When an alcoholic liquor dealer is charged with a liquor related violation (such as sale of alcohol to an underage person), the Village Prosecutor calls a hearing before the Local Liquor Control Commissioner to attend to the violation of the liquor license. For Alcoholic Liquor Dealer provisions, requirements, restrictions and rules and regulations.
View Chapter 13 of the Village Code.
- Record Village Related Documents and Plats.
Ordinances, resolutions, agreements, contracts, easements, plats of subdivision, dedication, annexation and annexation, as well as estoppel agreements, on-site utility maintenance agreement, liens for weed cutting and delinquent water bills are processed and recorded through the Legal Department with the Cook County Recorder’s Office.
- Board of Trustees Policy Manual.
Create and update policies implemented at the Village Board’s direction. Over the years, the Village Board of Trustees has assembled certain policies related to: Administrative Directions, Annexations, Apartment Buildings, Boards and Commissions, Board of Trustees, Civil Rights, Fees, Liquor Licenses, Schools, Senior Citizens and/or Citizens with Disabilities, Social Services, Stop Signs, Streets and Trees.
- Provide legal advice to Elected Officials, Village Departments and Boards and Commissions.
- Union Matters with Sworn Police and Fire Personnel.
The Assistant Village Attorney participates on behalf of the Village Administration during the negotiation process of Police and Fire Union Contracts.