September 1 - October 15 , 2016
Independent
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VOL. 12 • NO. 38
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Village Board poised to increase water fees Needed to fund sewer separation, storm water management By Paul DelGuidice FOR THE VILLA PARK INDEPENDENT
Villa Park residents voted in November, 2015 to approve a $23 million bond issue to fund muchneeded street improvements. The bonds, which will be paid back via increased property taxes, did not provide funding for critical storm water and sanitary sewer separation work underneath many of the roads identified for reconstruction. Where funding for the “underground” work would come from was still a mystery. With engineering and other preconstruction work completed on many of the streets, the question must be addressed before spring construction season begins. “I’ve been on this Board since 2007 and we’ve been kicking this issue down the road for nearly 10 years.” said Trustee Al Bulthuis at the August 8, 2016 Board of Trustees meeting. “We need to address it.” With nearly nine miles of streets on the referendum-funded reconstruction list needing underground water, sanitary, combined sewer separation and/or drainage improvements, Village staff has proposed a two-pronged funding strategy. The
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first measure is seeking a one-half cent sales tax increase, which would generate an estimated $1.5 million annually. The sales tax increase will need to be approved by voters in the upcoming November election. Sales tax increases are “less painful, because some if not most of the money comes from people who don’t live in town, but come to Villa Park to shop,” according to Trustee Chris Aiello. Sales tax increase won’t cover IEPA loan payments The money generated from the sales tax increase will not be enough to cover payments on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) loans that the Village will seek to fund the projects. In order to guarantee payment, and thus secure the IEPA loan in the amount of $9 million, a second source of income is needed. “This increase in sales tax will only partly fund the underground [infrastructure].” Bulthuis said. “It will go only about half way.” That second source of income will be a direct hit to Villa Park residents and businesses -- two new fees tacked on to monthly water bills. The Board of Trustees was scheduled to address this at their Monday, Sept. 12 meeting. (Note: The meeting took place after press time. See full story in a future issue of the Villa Park Independent.) The wording on the published
See FEES, Page 3
Inside:
Police Reports...........6 Sports �������������������� 18 Viewpoint.................8 Classifieds..........24-25
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
Oktoberfest slides into town!
PAUL DELGUIDICE PHOTO Villa Park Independent
FREE
These three little ones have a whee! of a good time on the giant slide, just one of the attractions at Oktoberfest 2016, Villa Park’s annual fall festival for the community held over this past weekend of Sept. 9-10. Much of the event’s success every year is contingent upon the weather. Thanks to sunshine, blue skies, fluffy clouds and humidity lower than the recent past, 2016 was one of those successful years! More photos inside.
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