A lot of options: $5.5 million in projects suggested for Vernon Hills’ capital plan
A master plan for Harvey Lake, the restoration of the Seavey drainage ditch to improve water quality in Lake Charles, and a face-lift for village hall are among the capital improvements being suggested next year in Vernon Hills.
The capital plan is updated and adjusted annually and averages about $3.8 million per year to be included in the village’s annual budget, which begins May 1. Overall, about $19 million in projects are suggested over the next five years.
Considered a flexible document, it covers a variety of areas including village utilities, buildings, streets, open space and equipment.
Preventive maintenance and improvement projects are identified by village staff throughout the year. Village board initiatives and community feedback also are considered and compiled in a recommended plan for review, Chris Venatta, public works director/village engineer explained during a recent presentation.
“We take that all into account when we put together this program,” he said.
The total suggested amount for 2025-26 is about $5.5 million but that number is skewed upward as it includes a $1.8 million state grant in the open space/stormwater category for Seavey Ditch work, Venatta said.
Without the grant, the proposed capital program is about average at $3.7 million.
Street and right-of-way work, including 8.2 lane miles of street resurfacing on Gregg’s Parkway and in the Sawgrass and Centennial Crossing subdivisions accounts for $1.73 million. Streets and related work typically accounts for almost half the capital budget and is usually the single-largest expense.
For 2025-26, the capital plan also includes $515,000 for improvements at village hall. That includes replacing the monument sign; removing the planters and pavers in the entry, design and construction to replace the building’s cedar siding.
Pedestrian crossings on Route 60 between Lakeview Parkway and Milwaukee Avenue to the Hawthorn shopping center property are envisioned for future years to be pursued in conjunction with the ongoing redevelopment there.
About $2.13 million in projects are suggested for the open space and stormwater category with the stream and shoreline restoration of the Seavey drainage ditch from Hazeltime Drive to Lake Charles accounting for most of the expense.
“This should definitely help with the water quality of Lake Charles, which will subsequently help with some of the irrigation that’s served out of that for the Gregg’s Landing as well as the White Deer Run golf course,” Venatta said.
It will stop the inflow of sediment which affects the quality of that water but solving the problem will require dredging, which is not including in this project, he added.
Another suggestion is $60,000 for a Harvey Lake master plan of what the board wants to see happen around the 14.5-acre artificial lake between Century Park and Hawthorn shopping center.
“I think we have a lot of options there,” he said.