NORTHFIELD – Seeking infrastructure upgrades to local roadways, stormwater systems, sidewalk and life safety systems, the Village of Northfield will ask residents to approve a $7.5 million bond issuance on March 15. The village will be holding two educational meetings on this topic, on Feb. 23 and Feb. 27.
“The purpose of the meetings are purely educational. We are trying to make sure that [the voters] understand the questions so they can make an educated vote,” Northfield Village Manager Stacy Sigman told Daily North Shore.
In December 2015, the Village Board voted to seek resident approval after spending several years assessing the current condition of the village’s infrastructure and finances. While the total bill for upgrades is $8.5 million, the village plans to rely on $1 million of reserves.
The plan provides for infrastructure upgrades including $5.5 million to improve local roadways, streetscape and sidewalks, $2 million in stormwater improvements and $1 million in life safety improvements.
Improvements to roadways will include resurfacing almost 50% of local roads, which were chosen based on an assessment study of the area completed in 2013. Those improvements are estimated at $5 million. The plan also includes $500,000 in upgrades to the village’s streetscape and sidewalk, which aims to improve signage, pedestrian and bicycle connections to parking lots and businesses, and the overall aesthetics of the downtown.
To alleviate flooding, the plan includes installing a 60-inch stormwater trunk main under Winnetka Avenue. While that project is estimated to cost $3 million, through 70/30 grants from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago (MWRD) and Cook County Highway Department, the village anticipates spending $900,000 on the project. The remaining $1.1 million will be spent on improving stormwater sewer systems along 7.4 miles of local roads.
A new Illinois law requires that all communities in Cook County under 25,000 in population consolidate their 911 call centers within the next two years. The village is currently working with Winnetka, Glencoe and Kenilworth on options to potentially create a combined 911 call center. Additional life safety upgrades will include a new police radio and communication system, new and replaced public storm warning sirens, as well as emergency back-up generators for public buildings.
So what does this mean for the average taxpayer? According to the village website, the total property tax bill will increase by about 1.535%, or $153 per year on a $10,000 tax bill. Since the village plans to complete these projects over a five- to seven-year period, the tax impacts will be put into place gradually over that time period. For example, Sigmund said improvements to local roads where the village has direct control will be completed sooner, while installing the stormwater trunk will be completed later since it requires cooperation with MWRD, Cook County and Glenview.
At the meetings, Sigmund will go through a presentation that provides background and details of the plan. She plans to walk through each of the categories, providing an overview of the infrastructure improvements, and answering any questions residents might ask.
The meetings are scheduled for Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. at Village Hall, 361 Happ Road, Northfield. For more information about the plans go to www.northfieldil.org.