Landfill to help preserve Grayslake history
A landfill near Grayslake's south side is the conduit that'll help pay for improving preservation of the village's history.
Grayslake village board members have agreed to set aside $1.4 million to help fund construction of what's called the heritage center project.
Officials said the $1.4 million is coming from royalty payments derived from Waste Management Inc.'s Countryside Landfill near Grayslake at routes 83 and 137. Waste Management is selling electricity generated from the dump's methane gases.
Carrying an overall $1.7 million price tag, the heritage center work will involve an expansion and rehabilitation of the downtown Grayslake Municipal Historical Museum at 164 Hawley St.
Plans call for the Grayslake Historical Society to raise from private donors the $300,000 for the project that won't be covered by village government.
Grayslake Assistant Village Manager Matt Formica said the plans to improve the historical museum go back about five years. Grayslake had to use the landfill's $1.4 million for municipal building construction.
"We're hoping (to start) as soon as possible," Formica said. "The board has authorized us to spend some money on architectural design work."
Among the museum's offerings are artifacts related to Grayslake's history and the area's settlers.
In 2004, money for a new Grayslake Fire Protection District station on Brae Loch Road came from the fees the village collects as part of the Countryside Landfill agreement. Grayslake struck a 20-year deal expected to total $23 million in exchange for the dump opening on its border.
Meanwhile, Grayslake village board members have agreed to set aside money for several other capital improvement projects. They include:
• Contributing $75,000 toward the installation of lights at two baseball diamonds at the new Alleghany Park.
• Providing updated laptop computers for Grayslake police squad cars.
• Storm sewer replacement and road rehabilitation on Seymour Avenue from Center Street to Park Avenue.