HILLCREST — At Wednesday's monthly meeting of the Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees, Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright of Baxter & Woodman said that Hillcrest's Priority 1A water main project is complete. 

The project's contractor, Elliott & Wood, Inc., recently completed the project's final punch list items. The project has a $1.2 million total budget and replaced mains along the full length of Scott Avenue, parts of Errett Road and Erickson Road from Scott Avenue to Jeffrey Avenue, and parts of Jeffrey Avenue from Errett Road to Erickson Road. Those streets are in the southern and oldest part of the village. The project will be financed with an IEPA loan that will involve 50 percent loan forgiveness. The debt service on the project will be $35,000 per year over 20 years.

Wright said Wednesday that Elliott & Wood will soon issue a final invoice and then work will start with the IEPA on reimbursement. 

Water

Village Water Trustee Dan Potter said during the meeting that Hillcrest's water bills went out behind schedule this month and late fees will be waived for the month and will return next month. 

Wright also said during the meeting that there are still 160 unknowns out of 440 on the village's state-mandated lead service line inventory work. The village must check to see if water lines running into homes are possibly made of lead or galvanized pipe. The village recently sent out a survey to residents to determine water line materials.

Wright advised the village Wednesday to continue with the work on identifying unknowns ahead of an April 2025 submission deadline. So far one resident has reported a lead line in Hillcrest, which Wright advised the village to confirm. 

Enforcement

Village President Rick Rhoads said during the meeting that Hillcrest now has code enforcement books that will allow it to write warnings and tickets for ordinance violations that occur in the village. 

Violations that can be cited with the books include overgrown grass, trash/debris in yards, excessive animal noise, loose animals, vehicles parked illegally, and unregistered vehicles.

Violators will first receive warnings, and failure to correct the violations will result in fines. 

Snow prep

Rhoads said during the meeting that the village expects to receive delivery of its new Ford F-350 dump truck by the end of the week. The village approved the purchase of the truck at its September meeting for $98,190.

The truck will be available for the village to use for snow plowing this winter. It was also said during the meeting that Hillcrest has a full shed of salt as it prepares for winter weather.

Trustee

The board tabled a vote on a potential appointment of a new trustee. Last month, Rhoads said that Patty Garcia is up for consideration to fill a trustee seat. It was announced in October that Trustee Joe Thompson has resigned his position due to personal reasons. Thompson was appointed to his position in June 2023 and served as streets & grounds trustee. The village has 60 days to appoint a replacement after a resignation.