CRESTON — At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees heard an update on the new Creston-Dement Public Library project from Village Building Inspector Aaron Moore, who said the structure of the new library has been completed and finishing work is underway. 

The project broke ground March 15 at the corner of Main and Cederholm Streets. A referendum passed in June 2022 that allowed the Creston-Dement Public Library District to issue $2.2 million in bonds to build a new library building on the land that was donated years ago for just that purpose. The main reason for the desire for a new building is the library outgrowing its current space at 107 S. Main St. The library board hopes for a fall 2025 opening.

Water tower

The board unanimously approved a proposal from KLM Engineering for $16,836 for the cleaning and inspection of Creston’s water tower. The work will be completed by July 1, 2025. The village received five total proposals for cleaning and inspection of the tower, and KLM Engineering's proposal was the lowest total for both. 

Trustees expressed a desire to look into the water tower cleaning in recent months when discussing rust issues that have been seen in the village's water system. It's been estimated the water tower hasn't been cleaned in 4-5 years. Village officials are also investigating other potential fixes for the village's rust issue, including hydrant flushing and changing the layout of Creston's water system.

Village Engineer Kevin Bunge also said Tuesday that he is currently working on mapping Creston's water system for an analysis related to the rust issue. Bunge plans to present the analysis to the board at its January meeting. 

Levy

The board unanimously approved its fiscal year 2025 tax levy during the meeting. The levy totals $23,176 and is below a five percent increase from last year, which kept the village from having to host a truth in taxation hearing. Village Treasurer Penny Payton said last month that the funds are planned to be used for salaries of village employees.

Storm sewer

Bunge presented an update to the board Tuesday on a planned storm sewer project in Creston. The project is currently in the easement negotiation stage and Bunge said he's been able to get in contact with all involved property owners besides one. After exhausting all avenues to reach the final owner, Bunge said he believes the village has the legal right to move forward with the project under Illinois drainage law.

"If drainage is existing in a location, you're allowed to not only maintain it, but to improve it," Bunge said. "And that's what we're doing is improving it." 

The next step will be a meeting with the involved property owners, getting easement agreements signed, finalizing plans and going out for bids in February or March. 

The project will consist of 36-inch storm sewer pipe being put in to replace broken drain tile and improve drainage in Creston. The storm sewer work will consist of adding pipe on both sides of the railroad tracks, but the current phase of it will not go under the tracks. The work was suggested due to issues with stormwater overflow.

The work will likely begin in the spring or summer of 2025. Bunge has estimated in the past that the project could roughly cost $180,000-200,000.

Homes

Moore said during the meeting that new home construction in the Creston Commons subdivision is continuing. Six homes are currently under construction. 

Hayden Real Estate closed on the ownership of the subdivision at the end of December 2023. The village has hoped in recent years to see clean up, new homes and a new agreement with the subdivision's ownership. 

"There are three that have the walls up," Moore said. "Two others have footings done. And the one other house is probably getting close to a final inspection."

Trees were also recently planted in the subdivision and eight new water lines have been pushed for new homes. The village is working on repairing street lights in the subdivision area that have not been working.