HILLCREST — Village of Hillcrest trustees voted to begin stricter enforcement of property violations following nearly a half hour in executive session Wednesday evening. There have been several complaints from residents regarding the unsightly conditions.

“We are going to start enforcing violations,” Village president Steve Dodson said. “There is stuff piled up in backyards, lots of junk, bicycles, everything you can thing of…brush piles, cars on blocks. We will start going after these. We have had many complaints.”
With the passage of the sales tax referendum on the ballot earlier this month, Hillcrest trustees voted to approve the sales tax ordinance at their monthly board meeting Wednesday evening. Following the necessary paperwork that needs to be filed with the state, the increase is expected to go into effect on July 1.

Trustees also approved a sewer ordinance amendment that outlines the procedure village residents with functioning septic systems would need to follow in order to be exempt from the sewer connection.

One of the provisions removed from the ordinance said all property owners with a private septic tank and located within 300 feet of sewer lines would be required to connect to the sewer. Homeowners then wishing to become exempt would have had to go through several steps including receiving an exemption from the board members.

The amended ordinance now reflects that the homeowner would need to get a professional inspection in order to receive the exemption. Board member Jason Fore said the new language relies on the professional to make a recommendation.

“The biggest thing is, I wanted to put it back in the hands of the professional and not this board or any board,” Fore said. “We don’t sit up here to make those decisions, not until it goes through a process. This is what it does, it establishes a process.”

The exemption, if granted, would be good for a three-year period based on the date of the inspection performed.

“This amendment is something that doesn’t inundate those who have functioning systems, but gives us the flexibility that is something is reported, this gives us the power…if we have a complaint, we will check it out,” Fore added.

Village engineer Jim Sparber presented a list of several streets in need of repair throughout the village, with a total estimate of over $200,000. The streets would be repaired using funds from the Motor Fuel Tax that the village receives on a monthly basis from the state of Illinois. It was agreed that next month’s agenda would reflect further discussion and possible vote on areas to repair first. Trustees also approved the tree debris removal for $2,500. Twenty trees were removed from a ditch line near Oak Avenue.

The village will be conducting hydrant flushing during the week of April 24.