New Resident Resources
Welcome to Arrowsmith!
We want to welcome you to town and as a new homeowner provide you with some information that you may find helpful being new to the community. Even though we are a small community, we have a village board, a community center and the village does own and maintain our own water treatment and distribution system. We employ part time staff to manage the day-to-day responsibilities for our water department and village administration.
For any type of emergency service need, we ask that you call 911. Our fire and EMS services are provided by the Saybrook/Arrowsmith Fire District which maintains two volunteer fire stations (one in each community). For police coverage, the village utilizes the Downs Police Department and the Mclean County Sherriff’s department for patrols and other law enforcement services.
Our local government consists of six village board trustees and a village board president. Our board meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:00pm at the Arrowsmith Community Center. We welcome the public to attend these meetings and bring their questions and comments or just to learn more about what is happening in our community. The meeting agendas are posted at the community center 48 hours prior to each meeting. Information regarding special meetings, community events, special notices and other village communications are also posted at the community center and at the water department office.
Our water department manages the daily operations of our water plant and distribution system in addition to the billing of our customer accounts. Our water plant is staffed by two part time operators and a clerk who oversee the daily operations and perform daily testing to ensure consistency of our treatment process. The village sources its water supply from two wells and treats the water prior to distributing it into the system for delivery to our customers. Our operators are certified by the Illinois IEPA and our treatment plant operations and testing meet all IEPA standards and requirements.
The village contracts our garbage and recycling collection services to Republic Services. You will be provided with separate containers for garbage and recycling by Republic Services. Our curbside garbage collection day is each Monday unless it is a holiday, in which collection will be the next day. Recycling should only be put in recycling containers and is collected curbside every other Thursday unless it is a holiday, in which collection will be the next day. Garbage must be placed in a Republic container or it will not be picked up. For items that will not fit into a Republic container please contact Republic Services for a bulk pickup. Bulk pickup items must be able to be loaded by the driver or broken down into smaller sections for easier loading. Our contract with Republic Services does not include the collection of building materials, batteries, electronics and any hazardous chemicals or materials.
In addition, we are also providing a list of some of the frequently asked questions we hear from new residents to the community. Some of those questions are below.
While we hope this has been helpful, we understand that the information that we have provided may not answer all the questions you have now or may have in the future. Please feel free to reach out and contact us at any time as those questions arise. As stated previously we only have part time staff, so we may not answer immediately, but we do monitor email and voicemails regularly and will get back with you as soon as possible.
Thank you and once again, welcome to your new community!
- The Village of Arrowsmith Board of Trustees
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the village have its own ordinances and regulations?
Yes, the village does have ordinances which are enforced by the village board and the Downs Police Department. For questions regarding our ordinances please contact the village at (309) 727-1150 or by email arrowsmith.village@gmail.com.
Does the village allow homeowners to have chickens or other livestock within the village limits?
No, the village ordinances do not allow for homeowners to have chickens or any type of livestock. The village ordinances limit homeowners to no more than four (4) pets and one of those may be a potbellied pig.
Does the village allow burning within town?
The village does allow for the burning of yard waste and landscape waste such at leaves, limbs and other vegetation. The village does not allow the burning of garbage, trash, plastics, furniture, mattresses or any other items that should be collected by our garbage contractor. The burning of items other than landscape waste can lead to fines from the village and from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The use of small recreational fire pits is allowed as long as the materials being burnt comply with the items mentioned above.
Does the village require a permit for a fence?
The village may require a fence permit depending on the type of fence and the location on your property. If you are planning to install a fence, please contact the village prior to installation. Doing so could save you time and cost in the design and installation of your fence should it not meet code or location requirements.
Does the village require my pets to be on a leash?
If you own a pet and it is not on your property, then the pet must be on a leash and in control by its handler. Village ordinances require pets be restrained on the owner’s property (fenced, chained or other means as to which the animal is restrained to the property). Pets are not allowed to freely run in the community.
Why does my water have bubbles in it when it first come out of the tap?
Our water is sourced from an aquafer which contains a natural level of methane that is dissolved in the water. When you pour it in a glass or use it, the methane quickly evaporates out of the water. This is a common occurrence in many aquafer water sources and is not harmful or dangerous.
Does the village have a building code and require building permits?
The village does have a building code and may require building permits depending on the type of construction. If you are planning any type of remodeling, building or major updates to your property please contact the village office for more information.
How does the village enforce its ordinances?
The village will first contact the person or persons who are believed to be causing the violation to try to educate and have the violation corrected. If this is unsuccessful, then the issue will be turned over to the Downs Police Department for enforcement and possible fines and other legal action.
Are golf carts allowed on village streets?
The village does have an ordinance which allows for golf carts to be driven on village streets.
- A yearly inspection and registration sticker from the village is required before a golf cart is permitted to be driven on village streets.
- Four wheelers and other ATVs are not allowed on village streets and do not qualify under the definition of unlicensed vehicles that are allowed on village streets and right of ways.
- Failure to register a cart and present a current sticker will result in fines.
What is the Community Center utilized for?
The Arrowsmith Community Center houses the village offices and is utilized for several community events including the annual Easter Egg hunt, Veterans Breakfast, and Halloween Trunk or Treat. In addition, the center can be rented by the public and has been utilized for events such as birthday parties, family gatherings, graduations, and many other events. Our community center contains a gymnasium, warming kitchen, and gathering rooms that can be rented for different rates. Rentals can be arranged by contacting the village office.
Does the village need volunteers for community activities or events?
Yes, as a small community we need our citizens to be involved in the community and help us as we strive to do things to improve our village and to bring new ideas and opportunities for our citizens. Small communities need volunteers as we do not have large budgets to employ full time administrators and other staff to plan projects and other types of events. One example of this is the village beautification committee that plants flowers and trees and takes on other projects throughout the year for decorating and other village property upgrades. This committee has done a lot over the past few years to improve some of the areas in our parks and throughout town. Another area is our village EMA (Emergency Management Association) area that contains volunteers who perform storm spotter duties and manage other emergency planning for the village. This group works closely with the Mclean County EMA and local law enforcement and plays a large part in keeping our community safe.
In addition, our fire district is always in need of volunteer fire fighters and EMS personnel as those departments fully rely on volunteers for their staffing. These departments have some of the latest equipment, vehicles, and facilities. Volunteer and training opportunities are plentiful in our community, and we would be happy to discuss these with anyone who has an interest.
Does Arrowsmith have snow removal equipment if we receive large amounts of snow?
The village maintains an intergovernmental agreement with the Arrowsmith Township to remove snow from village streets. Many village streets are narrow, and we ask our citizens to provide as much room as possible prior to snow events by moving vehicles off the road as far as they can. This makes it easier for the plow drivers to remove as much snow as possible from our roadways.
Does Arrowsmith have a library?
Arrowsmith is part of the Golden Prairie Public Library District which contracts with the Bloomington Public Library. You are eligible for a Bloomington Public Library card and have access to all locations and materials the library offers. The Bookmobile stops in Arrowsmith in front of the Water Department every third Saturday. Schedules and times are available at the Post Office, Water Department, and the Community Center.