Mount Prospect will use reserve funds to replace collapsed roof over reservoir

Mount Prospect will dip into its reserve fund to replace the collapsed roof over a 2 million-gallon storage reservoir near Camp McDonald Road and Route 83.

The work will cost about $1.5 million, with more than $900,000 coming from reserves, officials said.

Trustees decided Tuesday to use reserves rather than postpone scheduled work on water main replacement and use the savings to pay for the roof.

"The use of those reserves, I think, doesn't harm us and allows us to continue with some of the projects for the water main replacement," village Finance Director David Erb said.

Trustee Michael Zadel first suggested using reserves for the roof work rather than delaying the water main project, arguing that postponing the work now could lead to greater costs in the future.

"That's what reserves are for. They are rainy day funds, and, to me, it's totally appropriate to use these reserve funds, and I think it will serve the village best in the long run to care of this now," he said Tuesday.

Public Works Director Sean Dorsey said a routine inspection on Oct. 5 revealed the roof covering the reservoir at Booster Pumping Station 17 had collapsed "like a pancake."

An insurance claim was denied, Dorsey said.

Village Manager Michael Cassady said the village is continuing to pursue the insurance claim and hopes to get some of the replacement cost back through it.