Hoffman moves forward on police station

After holding a groundbreaking last week for the new police station, Hoffman Estates officials approved another expenditure for the project Monday.

The village board approved $1.1 million in bids Monday for Berger Excavating of Wauconda, Chadwick Contracting Co. in Lake in the Hills and Pine Waterproofing in Aurora. Officials say the village had budgeted $1.6 million for the work, meaning it's under budget for this portion of the work.

The targeted date for the opening of the new, $28 million station remains August 2010, though some have other expectations.

"Hopefully, we can get in early," Trustee Gary Pilafas said.

Officials gathered Friday at 401 W. Higgins Road for the groundbreaking.

In other police-related matters, the village made it official, reducing the number of Hoffman Estates police officers positions from 105 to 102. No one lost their job, as those posts were unfilled. The village asked Police Chief Clinton Herdegen and other departmental heads to cut their budgets earlier this year. The reduction of the three police jobs saves $179,000 a year. That's the about the same amount of money the village estimated it would cost to put up three temporary LED signs to distribute village information.

The village on Monday approved the installation of two of those signs for $145,000, holding off plans for the third sign at Charlemagne Park where residents complained it would alter the character of their neighborhood. The two other signs will be along Beverly Road, north of Shoe Factory Road, and at the new police station.

Trustees Cary Collins and Ray Kincaid voted against the signs. Collins said he didn't think Beverly Road was a good place for a sign in that not enough people would see it.