Gurnee stays course on street, flood plans

Capital improvements, such as street resurfacing and buying homes for removal from the Des Plaines River floodplain, are still planned in Gurnee despite a tight budget and declining revenue.

But some projects discussed in the past have been put on hold because of the money crunch, officials said, including a water tower and salt storage dome on Gurnee's west side.

Community Development Director David Ziegler outlined a $3.4 million capital improvement budget at a meeting this week for Mayor Kristina Kovarik and village trustees. The capital costs are part of an overall $45.4 million spending plan set to start May 1.

Ziegler said much of the $3.4 million capital spending will be on repairs to streets, sidewalks, roadway lighting and pedestrian trails.

About $300,000 will be used as Gurnee's share toward paying for landscaping additions, street lighting and pedestrian improvements as part of the Washington Street construction project.

Ziegler said the good news for motorists is the end is in sight for the Washington Street construction project, running from Route 21 on the west to Greenleaf Street on the east.

"I would expect by next winter we'll be driving on four lanes of new pavement," Ziegler said.

Ziegler said Gurnee has set aside $100,000 for its share of the cost to buy houses in the Des Plaines River floodplain. The purchased homes then would be leveled and removed from the flood-prone area.

Three or four homes have been identified for removal, Ziegler said. The program is voluntary for the homeowners, he added.

"We're going for the most severely impacted ones first," Ziegler told the village board.

Responding to a question from Trustee Jeanne Balmes, Ziegler said there isn't enough money right now to pay for a new west side water tower that would cost at least $2 million. While the perception is the water pressure is low on the west side, he said, the reality is it meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency minimum standards.

As for a previously planned salt storage dome on the west side, Public Works Director Thomas Rigwood said it no longer may be necessary. He cited increased use of liquids in snow-removal efforts and an ability to now get salt from Warren Township's dome near Washington Street and Almond Road.