Villa Park borrowing $2 million for sewer upgrades

Villa Park has agreed to borrow up to $2 million to fund combined sewer separation improvements that are a part of the Maple Area Improvement Project.

The funds are to come from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Water Pollution Control Loan Program.

"The IEPA loan - if approved - would be a 20-year loan with an interest rate of around 1.5%" Village Manager Richard Keehner Jr. said during a village board meeting Monday.

The separation of approximately 5,100 feet of existing combined sewer mains is to reduce the frequency and severity of flooding and sewer backups.

The project consists of street and utility improvements on East Maple Street from Illinois Avenue to Villa Avenue; on East Pine Street from Summit Avenue to Villa Avenue; on East Oak Street from Division Street to Villa Avenue; on East Division Street from Cornell Avenue to Villa Avenue; on North Summit Avenue from Division Street to the north dead end; and on North Myrtle Street from Division Street to Oak Street.

According to Keehner, construction would begin in 2021 and "the repayment stream of revenue would be the non-home rule utility sales tax approved by referendum in 2017."