A couple glitches resulted in a few emailed reservations not being logged, and a couple no-shows, but everyone was in the best of spirits and it turned out to be much easier and faster than we thought. Pick up times being scheduled made it very efficient.
DGreport reader Bob LeMay fits one rain barrel with no problem into his TARDIS-like Smart.
By spreading out and assigning pick up times there was never a big rush. Organizer Mary Scalzetti was worried about the logistics and traffic back ups, but there never really was any lines to speak of.
Public Works Director Nan Newlon was on hand, as was Village Attorney Enza Petrarca. Village Manager Dave Fieldman helped direct traffic for a bit before picking up his barrel.
There were so many barrels sold the Conservation foundation had to make multiple truck runs. Here, we've pretty much run out of barrels at the west pick up area.
These barrels are refitted food barrels that came from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries bringing over olives, oil, garlic, pickles, pickled vegetables, and exotic grains. Most had some kind of blemish or two they picked up from traveling halfway around the globe, but that has no effect on performance. They can be painted to match your house color palette or your whimsy with Krylon type paints.
- Mary Scalzetti is a happy person. Her event went off wonderfully.
For many buyers, this seemed to be a first try, with many residents expressing interest in maybe getting more in the future, Rain Barrel water is exempt from any watering restrictions, and it is the first step in best management practices for stormwater mitigation.
Public Works AD Stan Balicki started this whole ball rolling when he bought a rain barrel. PW made up the display that traveled around town promoting the sale. Communications Director Doug Kozlowski and his crew along with Community Events Director Scalzetti made up the promotional materials, and several resident groups including Pierce Downer’s Heritage Alliance and the Downers Grove Organic Gardeners pitched in to help get the word out and pump up sales, and provide some of the volunteers (although there were many more who helped).
Mine’s up and running. Leveling the base was fairly easy. Getting the downspout shifted around the corner and down behind the fence was a pain, but with skill and planning I managed to avoid any part being plumb or level. 
Wow! Great inter-departmental and community-wide involvement!
But I’m not sure how many people will get the “bigger on the inside than on the outside” TARDIS reference, Mark.
Home Depot didn’t have the pieces I needed but Menard’s did (their website is awful though, you won’t find any help there).
only us Dr. Who fan-actics!
The success of rain barrel event took the village a big step forward Saturday. It showed residents will shoulder responsibility for storm water Best Management Practices right at their own home, right where it begins, with “an ounce of prevention”.
You’ve all played a very important early role in future storm water mitigation by helping break through to that first level of awareness. This successful foundation, and what gets built upon it, has the potential to save taxpayers future money on “a pound of cure”.
That, my friends, is a worthy cause!
I checked my rain barrel this morning, and it is full. But, of course, now I won’t actually need it for a while…