CRESTON — At its Tuesday meeting, the Creston Village Board resolved to commit $160,000 in matching funds if it were to receive a grant for a $650,000 reconstruction of its downtown area. 

Applications for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Rebuild Illinois Main Street & Downtown grants are being taken until the first week of January. $50 million is available for the entire state. Last month, the board authorized Village Engineer Kevin Bunge to submit an application. 

Bunge said the village’s application would have a total project cost of around $650,000 and would cover the area from the north side of the train tracks to the south side of Cederholm Street. 

It would include a new water main and storm sewer, reconstruction of the street, all new sidewalks on both sides, new curb and gutter and parallel parking on one side of the street and angle parking on the other. It also includes street lights, planters, trees if the village wants them, benches, bike racks and trash bins.

“We've talked about this section of street for quite a while,” Bunge said. “At least now there's a grant that's specifically for this. But probably every other community in the state is going after it too. We just have to show that the cost estimate is well thought out. The plan can be tweaked later in small ways. This is a complete reconstruction of all of that road and all of the infrastructure under it. Sanitary is the only thing we're not touching. That's in good shape. We would also notify utility companies to do what they need to do while it's open.”

Bunge said the grant selection process is a points system and the village would be more likely to get the grant if it used a higher local match. Village Trustee Mike Kerns was in favor of doing that.

“Some day, we're going to pay for 100 percent of it,” Kerns said. “Let's match everything we possibly can right now so we're hopefully high on the list. Do 25 percent if you think it'll help. You're getting 75 percent of the project paid for. If you get your whole downtown done for $160,000, you're doing pretty good.”

Bunge said that 25 percent is “a good number” for consideration and the grant application process would take a year and if selected, Creston wouldn’t start construction or have to pay any costs until the latter part of 2023. 

Village Trustee Curt Ward said if the matching cost were to end up being too high for the village to afford, Creston could opt to not sign the agreement before it began as proposed.

Water letters

The village recently sent out letters to its residents detailing situations with its water meters and concerns about a chlorine smell in its water. 

Creston is currently waiting on a new water meter reader device that has not arrived as planned. In the interim, after charging estimated water rates recently, the village is asking residents to read meters themselves and send in screenshots or numbers in writing. 

“That way if we can get actual readings from some people, we can get them back on track with accurate as opposed to estimated use,” Village Clerk Jennifer Payton said. “If you've overpaid, we can start getting that straightened out now, same with those that have been getting underbilled. We're trying to figure out a way to help people out because it is frustrating for residents and us.”

Village President Tom Byro said after working to regulate the level of chlorination in the village’s water supply to meet EPA standards, it is now under control.

Tax levy

The board unanimously approved its tax levy for 2022 and it will total $21,206, just under a five percent increase from last year. The village is using the same Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) from last year. 

Village Treasurer Penny Payton said the money is earmarked in the budget for legal expenses and mosquito control in 2022.

Well maintenance

Byro brought up the idea of future well maintenance projects at the meeting due to recent issues with water. He said one hasn’t been “pulled” in a long time and the other hasn’t ever been, to his knowledge. 

“I think next year we need to talk about possibly putting it on the agenda to get it looked at,” Byro said. “You can't do it in the winter or summer. It's something I think we need to look at for next year, possibly getting it on or budget someplace. It's not going to be cheap, but we need to make sure our wells are up and running.”

Village Hall

Byro said the village plans to do some maintenance work on Village Hall this winter that will include painting of the inside walls and carpet cleaning. He said to his knowledge, neither of those things has been done since it was built in 1989. 

“I think it's time we spent a little money on getting this building back up to shape before it goes south,” Byro said.