More state money lets Huntley do more road projects

An unexpected windfall from the state means Huntley can add yet another road improvement project to its schedule.

Huntley received a combined $176,800 from both the state's High Growth Allotment and the Illinois Jobs Now programs. That money has been moved to the motor fuel tax fund, which covers roadwork.

Officials had budgeted that fund conservatively because they didn't know whether that cash from the state would come through.

“The state keeps threatening to take local money away because they're in trouble, so we really are never sure about what we're going to get from the state,” Trustee Pam Fender said. “It comes after the fact. You don't count on state money until you get it.”

The board is scheduled to approve spending an extra $144,330 on road projects tonight after giving preliminary approval last week.

The money would cover road repairs for Church Street from Algonquin Road south to Second Street. It also would include Union Road, and officials are looking for funding to make repairs to Douglas and Charles Streets, said Lisa Armour, senior assistant to Village Manager Dave Johnson.

All told, the village would spend $789,330 on its 2012 road improvement project, with the additions.

The rest of the road improvement project involves partial construction on Cindy Jo, Bernice and Edward avenues, repairs on Joan Avenue, and streets in the Huntley Cemetery.

Additional repairs are also slated for Kenneth Avenue and Bakley Street and Church Street, from Algonquin Road north to Joan Avenue.

Moreover, work that started last year on Kiley Drive would conclude this year, Armour said.

Plote Construction has been hired to do the work.

Construction starts in mid-June and should wrap by mid-August.