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Villa Park voters favor road repairs

Villa Park voters must have heard the call from a group of their neighbors that it's time to begin investing in their town's infrastructure.

More than 70 percent of voters approved the village's request to increase taxes and borrow $23 million to fix 20 miles of crumbling roads in a seven-year plan, according to unofficial election results with all 31 precincts reporting.

"I think the citizens of Villa Park realize that this is an urgent issue and that we need to address it," said Pete Renn, co-chairman of Your Neighbors for Better Roads in VP Committee, which pushed for approval of the property tax increase. "In the end, it's our village - we own it and we need to take care of it."

Now the village can move ahead with several "shovel-ready" projects to smooth out bumpy roads and reinstall curbs.

Village Manager Rich Keehner said one priority is reconstructing Park Boulevard from Villa Avenue to its end on the eastern border of town for an estimated $1.3 million.

Beginning with the property tax bills homeowners receive in 2016, taxes are expected to increase $73.20 a year for every $100,000 of a home's actual market value to pay for the road improvements.

  Park Boulevard from Villa Avenue to its eastern end stands to be one of the first streets that will be completely reconstructed now that 71 percent of Villa Park voters approved a tax increase so the village can borrow $23 million for road repairs. Marie Wilson/mwilson@dailyherald.com
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