Money found for road projects

On July 6, Village trustees agreed to finance all four areas of the 2010 street improvements project with a combination of monies from two of five options suggested by Village Administrator Heather Kimmons.

Their action follows the trustees’ earlier request of Kimmons to find additional funds after the project’s bids came in at $707,101, significantly higher than the budgeted amount of $597,843. They asked her to recommend any projects that might need to be postponed this fiscal year to make up the difference as possible options.

As a result, monies for the project’s shortfall will come from funds from the Village reserves and funds that had been budgeted to add lights to ball diamond No. 4 (see related article, lower left). The Village has additional funds that could be used following the sale of the old Village Hall along Elwood Street for $70,000. It was noted at the meeting that monies amounting to $25,000 each for the library expansion and the recreation/activities center will not be tapped for the road project.

During earlier Board discussions on ways to rein in the road project’s costs, Mayor Hap Gilbert had said eliminating planned road fixes to Lucile and Highland would allow the finances to be in “...pretty good shape,” but trustee Bob Rasho had asked the Board to consider “an adjustment to the budget” allowing all four projects to move forward with construction within the next few months.

Kimmons said if the project moves forward and such a timeline is adopted, it will be “...tough, but we would try to have a minimum of disruption to the school routes” during the construction period which could extend beyond the beginning of school.

A mix of opinions on the overall project were aired during the June 21 Board meeting. Public Works Director Larry Coloni reminded trustees that Lucile and Highland are the only oil and chip streets within the Village. Trustee Steve Hubbard, as chair of the Finance Committee, said he could not support the more than $700,000 in anticipated expenditures for all four areas. “Where will the money come from?” he asked. In the end, trustees tabled any decision that night to await a recommendation from Kimmons.

Kimmons said her July 7 recommendations to the Board were based on practicalities and the reality of the situation.

“It’s great to build new things, but we have to take care of older things as well,” she said. She noted the need for infrastructure expenditures next year already has become apparent.

“We have to make sure we’re strong on infrastructure,” she said.