HILLCREST — Hillcrest trustees voted to move forward with infrastructure improvements to the village water, sewer and roadway systems during their April meeting Wednesday evening.

The improvements will include a new water tower, a new shallow well and a new water treatment plant as well as water, sewer and roadway work on the south end of the village. The Hillcrest board is working with Baxter & Woodman Engineering to apply for grant funding to help pay for the project. The estimated overall cost for the 200,000-gallon water tower, the shallow well, the water treatment plant and the first phase of infrastructure work is $5.24 million.

Plans to improve the village infrastructure were paused in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 1A of the water, sewer and roadway improvements would include Scott Avenue, Errett Road and Erickson Road. If the village cannot secure enough grant funding, trustees said they would consider diving up the work further to spread out the cost of work.

Trustees received a low bid of $39,941 from AC Pavement Striping Company in Elgin for seal coat work on the north side of the village this summer. The bid was roughly 5 percent below the estimated cost for the project. Trustees approved an annexation agreement, special use permit and two fencing variances for a 226-acre solar farm, Rochelle Solar LLC, off Twombly Road.

Village President Jason Fore announced that Randy Salsbury will serve as president pro tem for the near future. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m.