Highway Commissioner

GRANT TOWNSHIP OFFICES, PANTRY & TRANSPORTATION WILL BE CLOSED ON PRESIDENT’S DAY – MONDAY,  FEBRUARY 16, 2026.  

The Highway Department strives to meet the growing needs of our community with the maintenance of our streets and roads for the safety of our families, children and those who pass through.

                              Highway Commissioner – Jim Smak. Jim has served 41 years with the Grant Township Highway Department (19+ years as Foreman prior to being elected to this position).  He has actively worked on construction and maintenance of 60 miles of Township roads. He has designed and installed all storm sewers, culverts, curbs, gutters & sidewalks. He has rehabbed ditches, maintained streetlights and has been maintaining all the highway equipment and machinery on site.  Jim is on call 24/7.  Jim is the heart and soul of this operation. He has dedicated his life to creating better roads and a better environment for this community. Jim has always and will continue to work tirelessly for the people of Grant Township.

Duties include:

• Water test kits – stop at Highway Dept. to pick one up, instructions included.
• Stakeholder/Planning Committee – Fish Lake Drain Watershed Management Plan and the Manitou Creek Watershed.
• (NPDES0) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Responsible for the development and implementation of our storm water program.
• J.U.L.I.E. Member
• Winter snow and ice control.
• Spring clean-up – Removal of winter’s leftover sand from the roads. A pavement sweeper and a crew with brooms use many hours to accomplish this job of sand removal.
• Road repairs – Freezing and thawing plays havoc with roads so spring always means road repairs
• Resurfacing – rebuilding roads – curb and gutter.
• Drainage, storm, sewers and culverts maintained and replaced in some areas to ensure proper drainage and prevent right-of-way flooding.
• Tree trimming and removal (ongoing projects.)
• Roadside mowing.
• Roadside trash pick-up – takes a lot of time and manpower.
• Caring for approximately 500 streetlights and maintaining traffic signs.
• Brush Pick Up Program (May – October). Last Day in 2025 for this program was 11/6/25.  BRUSH REMOVAL PROGRAM 5_21_25
• Assist families involved in flooding and storms with sand bagging, pumps, and debris clean up.
• Mosquito Abatement Control Program for catch basin/storm sewers, ditches, etc.
• Adopt-A-Highway programs.
• Snow Removal Operations Grant Township Highway Department – Snow Removal Operations 11 18 2025
• Electronics recycling is NO LONGER at this location as of 11/30/2025……                                                                                                                                                                                        We will host 2 Electronic Recycling Events in 2026 – May 16 & October 17: 8:30-11:30am .                                                                                                                                          Contact SWALCO for more information on Recycling & Electronic Recycling events at (847)377-4950.  SWALCO hours are 8am-3pm M-F & 8am-Noon on Sat.                                Nearby Electronic Recycling Locations: 1) Grayslake Public Works Facility: 585 Berry Ave, Grayslake (847)223-2860 M-F 7am – 3:30 pm; Sat. 8am – Noon – Excluding Holidays          2) Highland Park Recycling Center: 1180 Half Day Rd, Highland Park (847)432-0807 Tuesdays 7am – 1pm; 1st Sat. of the month 7am – 1pm – Excluding Holidays.                                                 3) LRS: 1350 N. Old Rand Rd., Wauconda; Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm; closed on legal holidays.
  

BURNING

lakecountyil.gov/openburning

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PLAN

The Stormwater Management Program Plan (SMPP) was prepared by Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. in coordination with the Village for the purpose of meeting the minimum standards required by the USEPA under the NPDES Phase II program. The SMPP describes the procedures and practices implemented by the Village to effectively reduce the discharge of pollutants within stormwater runoff and comply with Federal standards.

Visit this page to learn more about stormwater management and things you can do to help reduce the discharge of pollutants within stormwater runoff.

This website contains the following:

• Educational links to specific topics mentioned in the MS4 permit
• Posted Annual Reports from the past 5 years – required by the MS4 permit
• Contact/Outreach form, which will allow residents and community members to provide general feedback on the MS4 Stormwater Program, or to report a stormwater issue. The MS4 permit requires that there be a procedure in place for residents to report an issue or comment on the program.