Island Lake trustees seeking federal funds for roadwork

Island Lake officials hope a federal grant will help pay for proposed street repairs in town.

Trustees on Thursday unanimously agreed to apply for a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the planned resurfacing effort, which focuses on seven streets in the center of town.

The streets being eyed for repairs are Landsend Court, Brierhill Drive, Brier Court, Forest Drive, Locust Avenue, Hill Court and Oakwood Drive.

All are in the oldest section of the village. The roads are uneven and have potholes, Trustee Chuck Cermak said.

“I don't think they've been worked on or resurfaced in many, many years,” Cermak said.

Plans call for the road surfaces to be grinded down and for new pavement to be added, Public Works Director Willie Kootstra said.

Nearly one mile of roadway would be affected. The roadwork is expected to cost $180,000, Kootstra said.

If the grant is approved, the village would be responsible for the remaining $30,000.

If the plan progresses, the work could be done in fall 2012, Kootstra said. It shouldn't take more than two weeks to complete, he said.

The board approved the application without any discussion.