Wheaton OKs $6 million borrowing plan

Wheaton council members have signed off on a plan for the city to borrow $6 million to pay for two long-sought projects.

The council Tuesday agreed to borrow the money to pay for the planned North Main Street project and the reconstruction of the bridge that carries Wesley Street over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

"These are projects that have long been on the drawing board for us," Mayor Michael Gresk said.

Most of the borrowed money, about $3.5 million, will be used to help pay for proposed flood-control improvements for North Main Street.

The work is expected to start after the park district finishes the first phase of its renovation of Northside Park in August.

As part of the project, a new bridge will be installed where a culvert now stands near the intersection of Main and Cole Avenue. The larger opening will allow more stormwater to flow beneath Main and into Northside Park.

The second project Wheaton must raise money for is the reconstruction of the bridge at Wesley Street and Manchester Road. That project started in November.

Once the work is finished at the end of the year, the new bridge will be wider and higher. It also will be strong enough for fire trucks, public works vehicles and school buses.

"It's a matter of public safety to put that bridge right," Gresk said. "That was one of the lowest-rated bridges in the state of Illinois. Something had to be done."

While the bridge project will cost $9.3 million, the city's share is about $1.9 million. The rest of the money is coming from other sources, including grants from the federal government and DuPage County.

Depending on how much the two larger projects end up costing, the bond issue could provide Wheaton with an additional $500,000 for other road repairs.

As for how much the bond issue will cost property taxpayers, city officials said that won't be determined until the loan is structured. Still, the bond issue isn't expected to greatly increase the property tax levy, which is the share of the budget paid for by property owners.