Streets, water focus of Mount Prospect infrastructure plan
Mount Prospect would spend more than $65 million - $11.5 million of it next year - on street, water and other infrastructure improvements over the next five years under a Capital Improvement Plan village leaders discussed this week during a four-hour workshop meeting.
About $4.4 million of the proposed spending for 2016 would be dedicated to road improvements, most for the village's annual street resurfacing program. The program aims to resurface approximately 6.8 miles of streets every year to maintain a 20-year resurfacing schedule.
Another $600,000 would fund engineering studies at critical road junctures, such as the intersections of Rand Road, Kensington Road and Route 83, and Rand, Central and Mount Prospect roads, as well as downtown intersections.
Other proposed projects for 2016 include:
• $1.27 million to replace the roof covering the Public Works facility. The roof was last inspected in 2013, when a complete replacement was recommended.
• $650,000 for inspection, repair and painting of the Station 17 storage tank, which was last painted in 2000.
• $350,000 for replacement of the Louis Street Relief Station, a job that includes replacing submersible pumps and electrical upgrades.
• $1.125 million for water main replacements and sewer main improvements.
• About $200,000 for the removal and replacement of ash trees.
• $205,000 for reconstruction of the Kensington Business Center jogging path. The jogging path and lights are 30 years old.
During a discussion of the plan Tuesday, Vince Grochocinski, chairman of the village's Finance Commission, raised concerns about the proposed use of $130,000 from street resurfacing funds to install bike route signs and pavement markings.
"We didn't talk about streetlights and bike friendly signs and all the other stuff that eats into the road construction fund," he said. "And the push basically is that if we spend the money on other things, we cut back on road resurfacing. After what we went through the last couple of times, I just want to let you know that, five years from now, when we're behind on the road resurfacing program, this will be possibly one of the reasons."
However, Mayor Arlene Juracek, noted that the signs and markings are part of the village's overall bike plan supported by many citizens, and is part of regional bike planning.
"(The spending) is not unreasonable compared to what we spend for putting in crosswalks for people to safely cross," Trustee Steven Polit added.
A formal vote on the Capital Improvement Plan has not been taken.