Road projects included in new Mundelein budget

The resurfacing of Allanson Road and unspecified improvements to a stretch of West Hawley Street are among the projects Mundelein officials are including in their proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Traffic-signal improvements for the busy intersection of Hawley Street and Seymour Avenue also are planned, as is the extension of a median west of the Route 60 train crossing that could help federal officials declare a long stretch of the railroad a horn-free quiet zone. Village board members and administrators discussed the proposals Monday night during a partial review of the roughly $41.5 million spending plan being considered for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins May 1. No formal decisions were made.

The conversation came just a few weeks after officials predicted a $4.7 million budget shortfall could lead to layoffs, service cuts and other economic-related changes.

Some of the projects unveiled Monday night won't happen if the village doesn't get state funding promised for the work, Village Administrator John Lobaito told the board. Among them is the Allanson Road resurfacing.

Other projects will go forward with less money that originally planned, such as downtown streetscape improvements along a stretch of Route 45 south of Route 176. Decorative lights are set to be added, but not the fancy brick sidewalks featured elsewhere in the downtown area, Lobaito said.

Lobaito singled out the traffic signals at Hawley and Seymour as being a must-fix project. The aging lights failed during this past winter, he said, and it's time for an upgrade.

"We've known that for a couple of years, but we've been delaying it," Lobaito said. Other projects will have to wait because of the village's economic woes, Lobaito said. For example, continued flood-prevention efforts along the Seavey drainage ditch will be postponed.

"We'll monitor that very closely to make sure it doesn't begin affecting properties," Lobaito said.

The village board is expected to approve the budget for the 2011 fiscal year on May 10. A vote originally was planned for Monday night, but it was delayed because Mayor Kenneth H. Kessler was not available.