CRESTON — At its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Creston Village Board of Trustees discussed potentially joining the Ogle County Economic Development Corporation. 

The newly-formed organization is a nonprofit and represents all of Ogle County. It aims to have a county-wide concerted economic development effort to see improvements for all of its member municipalities and the county. Since 2019, more than a dozen communities, utility companies, state and regional economic agencies have come together to make the OCEDC a reality.

Creston trustees expressed a desire Tuesday to get involved with the organization on some level to help its own economic development efforts after speaking with representatives of the OCEDC. Creston would have to buy into the organization, and there are a wide range of membership levels from $30,000-$300.

"I think one way or another, we need to join this to have our ear in there and receive their expertise, guidance and knowledge that we don't have," Village Trustee Reid Elliot said. "We don't know all of the questions to ask developers. Let's surround ourselves with some smarter people as stuff is coming this way. I think we're kind of unique with the ground we own. If someone wanted to come in and buy some of our land, what's the price tag?"

The OCEDC is made up of various officials from municipalities and the county. New officers elected at the July 20, 2023 meeting are Randy Schoon - president (Polo), Darin DeHaan - vice president (Oregon), Paula Diehl - secretary (Mt. Morris) and John Rickard - treasurer (Byron). Each officer represents a community that has pledged startup funds for the new organization. Ogle County and the City of Rochelle have also pledged.

The OCEDC recently hired a new executive director in Charlene Coulombe. She has over 35 years of experience serving in economic and business development with a background of building a variety of communities from just outside of Chicago to Minnesota.

To start the OCEDC, $300,000 was raised between the county and the five communities of Polo, Mt. Morris, Oregon, Byron and Rochelle. The governing bodies took a formula of each of their federal COVID-19 relief American Rescue Plan Act funds that they received.

"This would help solve a problem for our village," Village President Tom Byro said. "Nobody on this board knows about economic development. We'd have to hire somebody. We could join this group. I think we need to continue with this and see what comes up."

The village board did not take a vote on membership or spending with the OCEDC but resolved to stay involved with the group going forward.

Storm sewer

Village Engineer Kevin Bunge said that preliminary work on a storm sewer project in the village is ongoing and interconnection details are being worked out. The new storm sewer would 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.

Website

Trustees again discussed the possibility of updating Creston's website at the meeting after the topic was brought up last month. Village Clerk Jennifer Payton has been working with two companies to provide the service.

The new site may include information on other Creston-affiliated organizations, including the Creston Booster Club and Dement Township. The village's current site is in need of an update due to its age.

Dement Township has agreed to pay for half the cost of the new site in exchange for its information being included on it. Payton plans to make a presentation on the topic to Dement Township and a vote may be held on proposals next month.

Sewer rates

The board discussed its sewer rates after it heard a presentation last month by Rochelle Municipal Utilities Superintendent of Water/Water Reclamation Adam Lanning. 

The RMU wastewater treatment plant services Creston and at its Feb. 26 meeting, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved water reclamation rate increases on average per year over the next five years of three percent for Creston/Hillcrest customers. The rate increase will run through 2028 and will "ensure continued investment" in the city wastewater system.

Trustees resolved to look into whether Creston has to raise its rates in kind with the RMU increase to reflect the new costs it will see, or whether the increase is already built into Creston's rate structure.

Building inspector

The board voted unanimously to raise its fee paid to Village Building Inspector Casper Manheim from $850 to $950.