ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees heard an update from Village Engineer Kevin Bunge on a storm sewer project that the village is considering.

Bunge presented plans for the new storm sewer that is planned to run east and north from the culvert that runs under the train tracks on the north side of them. The northernmost part of the project will run to Cederholm Street. The work was suggested due to issues with stormwater overflow. The work will require the village to talk to property owners to get easements.

The plan presented by Bunge included 800 feet of 36-inch concrete pipe and six structures. He estimated the project could roughly cost $180,000-200,000, and if cost is an issue, the village could downsize the project.

Bunge called the storm sewer project "the backbone for everything" as far as stormwater in the area. He doesn't anticipate issues in acquiring easements from area property owners to install the pipe.

For the lowest possible cost, the project would be ideal to go out to bid for in January or February for work in the spring, Bunge said. The village board took no action on the potential project on Tuesday.

OCEDC

The board unanimously approved a resolution to join the Ogle County Economic Development Corporation at a $1,000 per year membership level.

The OCEDC is a newly-formed organization that represents all of Ogle County and aims to have a county-wide concerted economic development effort to see improvements for all of its member municipalities and the county. The OCEDC is made up of member taxing bodies Ogle County, Polo, Oregon, Mt. Morris, Byron and Rochelle.

Last month, the board heard a presentation by OCEDC Executive Director Charlene Coulombe on the services her organization can offer the village. The OCEDC has the ability to post land and building sites on online marketplaces and networks that can be looked at by a wide variety of developers. Finding and applying for grants, working with local existing businesses, and attracting home developers are also skills Coulombe and the OCEDC can offer.

"I think this is something that we really need to get into," Village President Tom Byro said. "We'll see where it goes. If we don't like it, we can get out."

Library

Creston-Dement Library Board President Doug Kroupa spoke to the board at the meeting regarding the ongoing construction of the new library in the village.

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.

Utility connection work has taken place recently on the project. Kroupa said Tuesday that the project is on schedule. The library board hopes for a fall 2025 opening

Subdivision

Village Attorney Russell Crull said during the meeting that a new development agreement is in the works with Hayden Real Estate, the new owner of the Creston Commons subdivision.

Hayden Real Estate closed on the ownership of the subdivision at the end of December. The village has hoped in recent years to see clean up, new homes and a new agreement with the subdivision's ownership. Tim Hayden, owner of Hayden Real Estate, has attended recent village board meetings and has detailed plans to start building homes in the subdivision.

"Hopefully we can get this done and get some houses built up there and get some things going," Byro said.

Appropriations

Village Treasurer Penny Payton detailed the village's proposed fiscal year 2024 appropriations ordinance that will be up for approval at next month's meeting.

The plan includes a total of $1.102 million. The total in the plan for water expenses is $403,900, and $173,300 for sewer work. Line items include 75,000 for a new emergency generator at the water well house, and $150,000 for new fire hydrants and water system valves.

IGA

The board unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement with Dement Township for the new website designer that the entities will split. The site will include information on other organizations in Creston and should be up and running by July 1. The village's current site is in need of an update due to its age.

The total cost of the website update, which will be split between the organizations, is $3,795 for the first year and $2,595 yearly. The Creston Park District may join in the agreement, website and the expenses in the future.