Pedestrian bridge, flood control part of Mt. Prospect capital plan
Mount Prospect could spend as much as $64.2 million over the next five years on capital projects including a pedestrian bridge over Northwest Highway, flood control measures and new bathrooms in the police station.
Officials discussed the village's plans for capital improvements for 2015-19 this week at a joint meeting of the village board and its finance commission. The updating of the five-year plan is an annual ritual, and this week's meeting was a prelude to the upcoming 2015 budget talks.
The joint panel heard from village departments outlining plans for various projects costing about $2 million more than those included in last year's plan, said Finance Director David Erb.
"The reason for that is we have full funding for our street program," he said, referring to measures approved by the village board last year enacting hikes in garbage collection fees, the motor fuel tax and the vehicle sticker fee to fund road work that had fallen behind schedule.
The bulk of the capital improvement plan - $58 million - consists of public works projects. Nearly 44 percent of that is targeted for streets, Erb said, while about 25 percent is devoted to water and sewer projects, and more than 7 percent on flood control.
In 2015, the total capital improvement plan would amount to $12.4 million, with $11.1 million devoted to public works.
Public Works Director Sean Dorsey said his department plans to spend more than $3.6 million next year to resurface approximately 6.8 miles of streets. The goal of 6.8 miles is an annual target to ensure that the 20-year resurfacing schedule is maintained.
With residents paying higher fees to fund that road work, Trustee Paul Hoefert suggested the village consider property tax offsets to ease their burden.
"I'd like to see us maybe try to think about knocking the property tax hike down, certainly in this coming year," he said.
Also on public works' plate in 2015 is replacing the roof on the department's administration building, at a cost of about $500,000. The roof is seven years beyond the 20 years of its useful life, officials say.
The proposed pedestrian bridge, estimated to cost about $3.2 million, would cross Northwest Highway, linking Melas Park with Meadows Park. Federal money would fund about 80 percent of the project, which has the backing of both the Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights park districts, according to village documents.
Although public works requests made up the lion's share of projects, other departments submitted their wish lists. Among them was the police department, which is asking for a new Range Firing Control System, to replace a system officials say is outdated and prone to breakdowns. The cost is projected at more than $120,000.
Police Chief Timothy Janowick also raised the department's need for more space, and to renovate existing space to make it more tech friendly.
Erb said the five-year plan will go before the village board next week for formal approval. Projects for 2015 will be considered in the upcoming budget process, but there is no guarantee they will receive funding.