CRESTON — At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees heard an update from Village Building Inspector Casper Manheim on the building of new homes that is taking place in the Creston Commons subdivision.

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. With one home build underway, Manheim said permits for five additional homes have been pulled and work is underway on those as well.

"By the end of the year, the first one will likely be ready for occupancy," Manheim said. "For the next five, two are already dug and going and I'm assuming the third one will be going by next week and they'll probably have all five done by the time the snow flies and that will give them plenty to work on as far as framing through the winter."

Manheim requested a change to his fee structure due to the extra work he'll be doing on the new homes, and the village board unanimously approved it. He will now receive 25 percent of each permit fee for the first 20 homes. The permit fee for the first 20 homes is $1,000 each and will be $2,000 each for the next 20 homes after that. His new fee structure only applies to new homes in the Creston Commons subdivision.

Levy

Village Treasurer Penny Payton presented Creston's proposed fiscal year 2025 tax levy during the meeting. The levy, which will be up for approval next month, totals $25,607 and is below a five percent increase from last year, which keeps the village from having to host a truth in taxation hearing.

Payton said the funds are planned to be used for salaries of village employees.

Water

Village President Tom Byro said Wednesday that he's been told by Village Engineer Kevin Bunge that he's been in communication with several vendors for the cleaning and inspection of Creston's water tower in the future. The work would include cleaning of the interior and exterior of the water tower. Painting will not be part of the project.

Trustees expressed a desire to look into the water tower cleaning in recent months when discussing rust issues that have been seen recently 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.

Bunge also sent village officials a message and said mapping of rust activity in the village's water system has recently been done. He proposed the replacement of water main in problem areas and the addition of valves, but trustees expressed the desire Wednesday to stay the course on current projects it has going on.

Sewer

Byro also read from Bunge's report that easement negotiation work is ongoing with five Creston residents for a planned storm sewer project in the village. After that step, the project will go out for bid.

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 of 2025. Bunge has estimated in the past that the project could roughly cost $180,000-200,000.

Christmas

Creston-Dement Public Library Director Kristi Scherer presented to the board during the meeting on Christmas in Creston. The parade will take place on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. with line up at 5:30 p.m. The tree lighting will follow the parade.

Creston Booster Hall will host Lunch with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a sandwich, chips, cookie and drink and gifts for children.

Election

Village Clerk Jennifer Payton said during the meeting that election packet submissions for those interested in village elected official positions can be dropped off at Village Hall between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18. Petition packets can be dropped off from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 12-14 and 18, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Nov. 15, or at a prearranged time with the village clerk's office.