Carol Stream village hall project grows in size, cost

Carol Stream's plans for a growing expansion of village hall could push the cost of the project and a temporary relocation of employees to roughly $19 million.

The village board has sent architects back to the drawing board to develop detailed designs of an addition for the combined village hall and police station along Gary Avenue. The building's footprint would jump from 40,400 square feet to 68,750 square feet.

Trustees have expressed support for that size, slightly larger than earlier designs and an alternative presented this week.

Despite the increase in scope, financial planners still say the village has enough money in cash reserves to pay for construction without taking loans. Here's the latest look at the project.

Funding

Earlier this year, the village estimated spending as much as $15.6 million on the overhaul of the 37-year-old building. A construction manager hired in August will continue to firm up costs and seek bids from contractors.

But the most recent budget shows roughly $18 million would pay for designs, construction and equipping the facility. Roughly $1 million more would go toward moving village business off-site for the duration of the 18-month project.

Assistant Village Manager Bob Mellor said a search is underway for a space the village would lease to house employees and possibly the police department's records and command staff. Special police operations may set up shop in another space.

Either way, all departments are tentatively slated to move out of village hall in March 2017.

The village plans to fully fund the project with capital reserves in hand, Finance Director Jon Batek says.

Reserve balances for the village's capital projects and motor fuel tax funds (covering all infrastructure projects other than those involving water and sanitary sewer systems) totaled $32.6 million for the fiscal year that ended April 30.

Carol Stream does not charge a property tax. General fund cash reserves built up by operating surpluses provide the primary funding source for infrastructure improvements.

As part of its new budget, the village transferred $10 million in operating fund reserves to capital projects. Batek doesn't anticipate another such transfer to cover an increase in the scope of the village hall project.

Just four months into the new fiscal year, the village already has a $1.4 million surplus in its main operating fund. Growth in the village's sales tax base has largely contributed to a $2.2 million surplus budgeted for this year.

Designs

Conceptual plans by Itasca-based Williams Architects - the firm that's also working on a new Bartlett police station - call for demolishing a portion of the village hall's main level, excavating the ground below and constructing a three-level addition. The rest of the building would be renovated.

The village board this week preferred a 68,750-square-foot building that includes 5,245 square feet of unfinished space in the shell of the basement for any future expansion.

That option also meets most of the village's goals - shaped by three committees of police, department heads and other employees - to improve security, accessibility, natural lighting and customer service in a building originally designed for 30 full-time employees, far below the 165 who work there now.

After they move out, demolition would begin in mid- to late March. Construction of the addition and the remodels could be complete by the end of fall 2018.

Costlier: Village already has $1.4 million surplus this fiscal year