HILLCREST — At its monthly meeting Wednesday, the Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved the awarding of a bid contract to Elliott & Wood, Inc. for $1.037 million for its priority 1A water main project that will take place this year. 

Elliott & Wood was the low bid of seven bids received. The project plans to replace 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 board also approved a construction oversight agreement with Baxter & Woodman, its engineering firm, for the project at a cost of $124,000. The project is contingent on the receipt of an IEPA loan, which the village plans to receive for the project with 50 percent loan forgiveness. The debt service on the project would be $35,000 paid annually over 20 years. The project could break ground in mid-April.

The project has been on the village's radar for a number of years. A greater water main replacement project was considered in the past, but was trimmed down to the areas of greatest need.

Policing

The board discussed the idea of dedicated patrols in Hillcrest by the Ogle County Sheriff's Office. Village President Rick Rhoads recently spoke with the Ogle County Sheriff's Office and obtained a quote of $80 per hour. That would be the only cost to the village, besides paying deputies for their time in court on Hillcrest cases. 

Rhoads said the hours would be part-time and on a rotating basis. The village would be interested in having patrols during first and second shift times.

"When they're supplying everything including vehicles, insurance and all that, I think for $80 an hour it would be a good deal," Rhoads said. "I'm thinking 10-12 hours a week to start.” 

Lead

The board unanimously approved a service agreement with Baxter & Woodman to assist with a state-required water service line inventory and a lead service line replacement plan if lead is found in Hillcrest. The village received a grant for $30,000 to pay for the work. 

Hillcrest must provide an inventory to the state on how many lead water service lines it has running into homes, if any. The work will involve sending surveys to residents who will be able to check their own water lines and provide information to the village. The village also received an extension from April to September for the inventory submission to the state.

If lead is found in Hillcrest, the village will be required to put together a replacement plan, send out notifications and replace the lines.

Water operator

The village unanimously approved an agreement with Test Inc. to become its new water operator firm for $6,000 a year. The cost is the same as the village's previous water operator. 

"They keep us in line with the EPA and IEPA and have a lot of new information on ways we can improve and be more efficient," Village Water Trustee Dan Potter said. "Our previous operator has been falling off with what they've been doing and we'll be sending them a cancellation notice."

Chip seal

The board unanimously approved a plan for its 2024 chip seal program that will include Errett Road, Rosalind Road, Erickson Road, Powers Road, and Linda Avenue. Trustees also approved a resolution to continue participating in the county's group bid program for chip seal work to obtain lower rates. Village Engineer Kaitlin Wright said the price will be higher than in years past, and Hillcrest's share is estimated to be $33,543.