HILLCREST — Residents in Hillcrest will soon be able to pay their bills owed to the village online using a credit or debit card. Trustees announced the setup process is nearly complete. There will also be a debit/credit machine inside Village Hall.

Customers choosing to pay online will be charged a convenience fee.

Village engineer Carl Fischer updated trustees regarding two grants for the sanitary sewer project issued several years ago:  One was a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $450,000; the other was an Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for $100,000, of which $25,000 was issued to the village.

In 2015, due to lack of appropriation from the state legislature, the grant was suspended and at the time DCEO could not guarantee when the suspension would be lifted and the village given the remaining $75,000.

Fischer further explained under DCEO rules, if the monies were spent on the project for which the grant was issued, the money cannot be given.

“I’m here to ask direction from the board,” Fischer said. “We have three options … first is to work with legislators and DCEO and ask for forgiveness, the second is to apply the $75,000 towards another project given the terms of the grant indicated it could be used for sanitary sewer or other capital improvements; third option would be to drop it.”

Trustee Jason Fore suggested researching estimates on a backup generator for the water system. It was also discussed to apply the grant towards water tower improvements.

In department reports, village president Rich Elliott notified trustees there have been 25 letters sent to customers to schedule meter inspections.

There will be a Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, April 20 at Powers Park. There will be separate sections for younger and older kids.