Village of River Forest

What Village of River Forest does

Village of River Forest is a municipal government entity organized under Illinois state law, headquartered at 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305, serving residents and businesses within its Cook County jurisdiction through a full suite of public services. Its core operations span water supply (drawing from Lake Michigan and distributed across approximately 40 miles of water mains), sanitary sewer management (33.1 miles of combined sewers), refuse/recycling/composting collection, police and fire services, emergency dispatch via the shared West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center with Forest Park and Oak Park, building and zoning, and economic development programs including TIF-anchored small business improvement grants. The Village serves approximately 3,167 residential and commercial water accounts and a broader resident base of single-family homes, condominiums, small apartment buildings, and local businesses. The Village President is Catherine M. Adduci, and the senior administrative team is led by Village Administrator Matt Walsh and Finance Director Rosemary McAdams.

The Village's technology platform rests on several integrated third-party systems: a Siemens/PMI-deployed Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for remote water meter reading, a WaterSmart customer portal for resident-facing consumption analytics and leak alerting, an Onlama-powered online permitting and service request portal, BSI Online for cross-connection control compliance, ArcGIS for mapping and lead service line surveying, and the ChargePoint network for EV charging payment processing and station management. Direct service delivery channels include Village Hall walk-in, phone support, online self-service portals, and shared emergency dispatch. Administrative services and sustainability programs also occupy a prominent role, with online permitting for building, electrical, EV charging station, and contractor licenses; an FOIA request system; and a calendar of public board, commission, and development review meetings.

The Village's revenue model is fundamentally tax-and-fee based, not commercial. Property taxes constitute the primary funding source, supplemented by bi-monthly water and sewer utility billing across approximately 3,167 accounts, weekly refuse collection fees bundled into the utility bill, transaction-based fees from building permits and licensing (including electrical permits at $100 base plus per-circuit charges), red-light camera violation revenue at North Avenue/Harlem and Lake Street/Harlem intersections, and voluntary monthly curbside composting subscriptions tiered by cart size ($13.79-$18.04/month as of May 2025-April 2026, with annual escalation). Sustainability programs are delivered through partnerships: Green Electric Aggregation and Community Solar programs are administered by MC Squared Energy Services (MC2); refuse and recycling collection is delivered under contract by Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS); AMI telemetry is built on Siemens infrastructure; and EV charging runs on the ChargePoint network. The Village holds no subsidiaries, generates no investor returns, and operates as a public, non-profit entity governed by an elected Village Board.

Name

Village of River Forest

Legal name

Village of River Forest

Website

https://vrf.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Village of River Forest is a municipal government in Cook County, Illinois, delivering water, sewer, refuse, public safety, permitting, and sustainability services to residents, businesses, and contractors within its jurisdiction under Illinois state law.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Landscaping Services (56173), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Refuse Systems (4953), Forestry (800), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Tree Care & Arborist Services (BPABADAD)

Keywords

• Municipal water services
• Waste management services
• Public safety services
• Building permit services
• Residential utility billing

Headquarters

HQ city

River Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Primary revenue source funding village operations, public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and community services
2. Utility Billing: Water and sewer services billed to approximately 3,167 residential and commercial accounts, collected bi-monthly
3. Refuse Collection Fees: Weekly refuse collection fees billed bi-monthly through Village utility bill, with base service and optional unlimited service tiers
4. Building Permits and Licensing: Fees for building permits, electrical permits, contractor licenses, business licenses, and EV charging station permits
5. Red Light Camera Violations: Revenue from automated traffic enforcement at North Avenue/Harlem and Lake Street/Harlem intersections
6. Curbside Composting Subscription: Voluntary monthly subscription for yard waste and food scrap collection with tiered pricing based on cart size, auto-renewing until cancelled

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Village of River Forest is a municipal government that provides residents and businesses with essential public services including Lake Michigan-sourced water supply through automated metering, sanitary sewer service, weekly refuse/recycling collection, curbside composting, public safety (police, fire, and shared EMS dispatch), building and electrical permitting, and an EV charging network. It also administers sustainability and community-development programs such as Green Electric Aggregation, Community Solar, the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, and the Bicycle Plan. Service delivery occurs through Village Hall walk-in support, online permitting and service request portals, phone support, and field operations.

Product overview

Village of River Forest operates as a municipal government providing residents with a comprehensive suite of public services spanning water utilities, waste management, sustainability, and smart city infrastructure. The core operational systems include Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) with WaterSmart customer portal for water utilities, refuse/recycling/composting collection via Lakeshore Recycling Systems, and EV charging infrastructure using ChargePoint network. Sustainability initiatives feature Green Electric Aggregation and Community Solar programs administered by MC2, the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, and various environmental certifications including Green Power Community and Tree City USA designations. Digital services include an Onlama-powered Service Request Portal for citizen requests and a FOIA request system for public records access. The village has adopted modern building codes (2018 ICC series, 2017 NEC) and maintains comprehensive transparency through annual water quality reports and financial disclosures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Utility Service (Automated Metering Infrastructure) Lake Michigan-sourced water supplied to approximately 3,167 residential and commercial accounts and billed bi-monthly. Uses Siemens AMI with daily interval reads, free WaterSmart customer portal for consumption tracking and leak alerts.
• Sanitary Sewer Service Combined sewer system transporting sanitary sewage and stormwater through 33.1 miles of sewers, billed bi-monthly through the Village utility bill.
• Refuse and Recycling Collection Weekly refuse collection of up to two 35-gallon cans and unlimited recycling through Lakeshore Recycling Systems, billed bi-monthly. Includes bulk item collection, yard waste pickup, and holiday greens collection.
• Curbside Composting Program Voluntary subscription-based organics collection for yard waste and food scraps, delivered through LRS. Three cart sizes (32-35 gal at $13.79/month, 64-65 gal at $15.91/month, 95-96 gal at $18.04/month for May 2025–Apr 2026), auto-renewing until cancelled.
• Building and Electrical Permits Permitting service for building, electrical, plumbing, and solar work performed by licensed contractors within the Village, processed online through the Onlama portal. Includes EV charging station permits. Electrical permit: $100 base plus $9/circuit, $1.75/openings, and service fee ($75–$200 by amperage).
• FOIA Request Processing Freedom of Information Act request processing for public records including Police records. Standard requests answered within 5 business days, commercial requests within 21 days; first 50 pages free, then $0.10/page (letter) or $0.25/page (other sizes).
• Lead Service Line Replacement Program Village-funded partial subsidy program for replacement of lead water service pipes connecting homes to water mains, paired with a Lead Service Line Survey and Water Service Material Map for property-level material identification.
• Green Electric Aggregation Program Opt-out municipal aggregation program that supplies residents and small businesses with electricity from renewable sources at ComEd rates via MC2, offsetting an estimated 26,000 metric tons of CO2 annually.
• Community Solar Program Village partnership with MC2 enabling subscribers to receive net metering credits on electricity bills by supporting offsite solar installations, with 10% savings on community solar credits and no upfront costs or cancellation fees.
• EV Charging Infrastructure Village-owned public EV charging stations including Level 2 dual-port stations on Central Avenue and at the commuter lot, plus DC fast chargers at 418 Franklin Avenue. Pricing: $0.25/kWh with $10/hour overstay fee after 15-minute grace period and $100/hour cap.
• Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Recycling Bi-annual curbside collection through LRS of household hazardous waste (up to 70 lbs) and e-waste (up to 7 items). Drop-off also available at West Cook County Solid Waste Agency and Cook County Center for Hard to Recycle Materials.
• Textile Recycling Service Free curbside textile recycling pickup through Simple Recycling every Friday, accepting clothing, shoes, bedding, coats, linens, tools, and toys to divert them from landfills.
• Online Service Request Portal Web-based portal powered by Onlama enabling residents to submit service requests for garbage bin replacements, branch pickup, road or sewer concerns, and water bill questions, with anonymous submission or account creation to track updates.
• Public Safety Dispatch (via West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center) Shared primary PSAP answering and dispatching Police, Fire, and EMS calls for the Villages of River Forest, Oak Park, and Forest Park from 400 Park Avenue, River Forest.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34% reduction in GHG emissions (2007-2020) through green electric aggregation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MC Squared Energy Services (MC2)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Administer of Green Electric Aggregation Program providing renewable energy (wind farm RECs) to Village residents and small businesses at ComEd rates. MC2 also administers the Community Solar program offering 10% savings on electricity supply credits. Program estimated to offset 26,000 metric tons CO2 annually.
• Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVillage's contracted waste hauler providing weekly refuse collection (up to 2 cans), unlimited recycling, seasonal yard waste collection, bulk item pickup, and HHW/E-Waste at-home collections at no additional cost to residents on Village waste contract.
• Siemens Industry, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner for Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project installing antenna on Village Water Tower and replacing 3,167 MXU devices for remote water meter reading. Project enables daily interval reads instead of monthly drive-by reads.
• Professional Meters Inc. (PMI)coreTechnology or IntegrationMeter installation contractor for AMI project, replacing approximately 314 water meters. PMI installers require adult (18+) present and schedule appointments through designated website and call center (866-965-0665).
• WaterSmartcoreTechnology or IntegrationWeb-based customer portal integrated with AMI system allowing account holders to view current and historic water consumption, set leak alerts, receive notifications, and access consumption trends. Free to all customers.
• Cross-Community Climate Collaborative (C4)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Villages of Oak Park and Broadview launched June 2022; now includes 15 communities. Designed to bring BIPOC and non-minority communities together to tackle climate change, achieve equity outcomes, and drive large-scale GHG reduction projects.
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner$90,000 Green Infrastructure Partnership Program grant for permeable paver installation in Green Alleys project (32 alleys reconstructed 2021-2023). MWRD also provides rain barrel program and stormwater management resources.
• Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultant for 2012 North River Forest Sewer Study reviewing stormwater management recommendations and developing Greenfield Street Alternative plan.
• BSI OnlinecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted backflow management firm maintaining Village cross-connection control program. Handles annual device testing certification, contractor compliance tracking, and customer CCN verification.
• West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center (WSCDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary PSAP answering calls and dispatching Police, Fire, and EMS for Villages of Forest Park, Oak Park, and River Forest. Located at 400 Park Avenue, River Forest. Telecommunicator salary range $52,120-$76,471.
• Simple RecyclingminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFree textile recycling pickup service offered in River Forest every Friday. Accepts clothing, shoes, bedding, coats, linens, tools, and toys. Program diverts textiles from landfills.
• PaintCareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit paint stewardship organization created by paint manufacturers through American Coatings Association. Manages statewide paint recycling program under Illinois law effective December 2025. Drop-off sites at paint retailers and government facilities.
• Center for Hard to Recycle MaterialsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCook County partnership with South Suburban College providing permanent recycling drop-off for electronics, textiles, furniture, styrofoam, and personal healthcare equipment.
• ChargePointcoreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork provider for Village-owned EV charging stations (dual-port Level 2 and DC fast chargers). Handles payment processing and station network management.
• Cook County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram providing low-cost, long-term financing for commercial energy efficiency, renewable energy, EV charging, and water conservation projects. Available to commercial and multi-family (5+ units) properties.
• Metropolitan Mayors CaucuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional coalition enabling Village partnership with MC2 for community solar program. Provides EV Readiness Program and facilitates inter-municipal collaboration on sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Village of Forest Park, IL: Directly adjacent smaller suburb sharing the WSCDC dispatch center with River Forest. Operates a comparable municipal service portfolio including police, public works, building, and water services for a smaller population.
• Village of Winnetka, IL: Affluent North Shore Chicago suburb of comparable size and demographic profile. Operates its own water utility, public safety, and sustainability programs with a similar property-tax-funded municipal model.
• Village of Western Springs, IL: Similar western Cook County suburb with comparable population and a full municipal service portfolio including own police, fire, public works, and water operations. Comparable scale and operating model.
• Village of Oak Park, IL: Adjacent inner-ring Chicago suburb of similar size and progressive policy profile. Shares police/fire/EMS dispatch with River Forest via WSCDC and is co-founding member of the C4 climate collaborative, providing directly comparable service portfolio and resident demographics.
• City of Park Ridge, IL: Similar-sized northwest Chicago suburb that owns and operates its own water, police, fire, and public works services. Provides a directly comparable full-service municipal model with a similar mid-sized operating footprint.
• Village of Hinsdale, IL: Comparable affluent western Chicago suburb operating its own water utility, sustainability programs, and full municipal services. Highly relevant peer given similar demographic and tax base profile to River Forest.

Broad incumbents

• Itron, Inc. NASDAQ-listed utility intelligence company (ITRI) providing AMI and meter data management solutions for water and electric utilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving similar municipal utility customers with AMI technology.
• Badger Meter: NYSE-listed manufacturer of water meters and AMI endpoints (BMI). Provides metering products that integrate into River Forest's AMI deployment, comparable in smart water utility technology.

Others

• Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS): Private-equity-owned waste hauler delivering refuse, recycling, and composting services to River Forest and other municipalities. Comparable in providing contracted municipal solid waste services with sustainability programs.
• WaterSmart Software: Vendor providing the customer engagement portal integrated with River Forest's AMI system. Comparable in delivering water utility customer analytics and leak-alert technology to municipal water utilities nationwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VillageofRiverForest
• Instagraminstagram.com/villageofriverforest
• Xx.com/VillageofRF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/village-of-river-forest-il

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Village of River Forest