HILLCREST –  During their monthly meeting Wednesday night, Hillcrest board members discussed several issues pertaining to village grounds and water.
During the water department report, it was discussed that for the first time the village has seen a 100 percent water meter reading. Which means that every meter in the village was functioning and reading the water levels properly.
“This month we had a 100 percent meter rating which is probably a first,” explained village trustee Dan Potter.
It was also brought to the attention of the board a problem with people dumping piles of trash in front of the clothes and shoes donation containers .
Village Clerk Dawn Bearrows previously called the company about cleaning up the mess and they did, but now it is back. She said that she is working on it and will contact the company again about keeping the area clean.
During the streets and grounds report, the need to purchase a new lawnmower was also discussed. The one currently owned by the village is getting old and is beginning to cost the village in repairs.
“The one we have is 11 years old and is costing more than it is worth, and now is the time to buy a lawnmower that it is getting toward the end of the season,” explained trustee Rick Rhodes.
The retention pond has also been fixed and is draining much better than before.

Village trustees also discussed the need for a text/email notification alert system in the village similar to the one at Northern Illinois University. The board expressed the urgency of trying to have a system up and running by the end of the year and newly seated trustee Renee Kerwin will begin looking into getting quotes on that as soon as possible.
Village president Jason Fore expressed his thoughts on the importance of having this system in place.
“We have gone way too long and our residents deserve better. The technology is there we just need to step up and do it now,” Fore expressed.
Carl Fischer from Baxter and Woodman presented about the village’s Department of Commerce and Opportunity grant being extended until June 30, 2020.
He also brought to the attention of the board the need to replace the village’s 45 Kilowatt generator with a more powerful one.
The village will host a special meeting with Baxter and Woodman at 6 p.m. on Oct. 2 with the entire board in attendance to discuss the village’s general construction costs.
The village will also be looking into getting either a police officer or an ordinance officer within the next 12 to 18 months.

New Business
A problem with residents paying their water bills either after hours or on the weekends is causing village employees to have to come in and work overtime to reconnect the water for these residents.
There is currently no cost to shut off the water, but there is a $75 fee to have it reconnected. The village is discussing raising this fee to $150 because of the number of repeat offenders missing payments and getting their water shut off in order to compensate for the overtime of employees.
Plans discussed included putting information on the back of resident’s bills explaining how and when they must be paid to help avoid this in the future along with possibly posting this on the village’s website and Facebook page.
The trustees plan to vote on this topic at next month’s meeting.