Water tank work will begin this summer

Mar 03, 2015 at 11:27 pm by Observer-Review


Water tank work will begin this summer ADVERTISEMENT

Water tank work will begin this summer

DUNDEE--Following a meeting with engineers from Barton and Loguidice Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Dundee village board said work to replace a 500,000 gallon water tank is expected to begin this summer. The firm's engineer Mike Parker said work is expected to begin on the project by "late June or early July," with an expected completion date by the end of October of this year. The new tank will be located above Hillcrest Drive in the village.
Parker said this work will include the demolition of the existing 80-year-old tank, with a total project cost of just less than $900,000, $600,000 of which is covered by grant funds, while the village will take out a loan for the remaining $285,000. Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. said the grant money includes the cost of the tank, the purchase of the tank site, access to site, the water line to the site and the connection work. The board had previously discussed the issues with pressure and flow throughout the community the old tank causes, along with the tank's peeling paint, lack of an access ladder, degenerating rivets and seams and holes in the roof. Village Clerk Christine Sutherland said she did not expect any interruption to village water service while the work is being done, other than perhaps to the two houses nearest to the tank.
Sutherland said the village had first submitted an application for funding for this project back in 2011, but were denied twice until they applied a third time in 2013.
The engineers also discussed a water main replacement project during the meeting. Sutherland said the board discussed possible changes to the project which would receive additional United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant funding if the village replaced 11,500 feet of water main as opposed to the originally proposed 9,200 feet. She said instead of the original $450,000 in grants, the village could see an extra $350,000 for the additional footage, while the village would still take out a $1,207,000 USDA loan.
"Originally the total cost was $1,657,000," Sutherland said. "But we only have a verbal [comment] -- it is not set in stone -- that they [the USDA] would give us an additional $350,000 in grant money to do additional lines. So the total project now looks like it will be $2,007,000. This is strictly for the water lines."
Sutherland said the village was trying to hit areas including Millard Street from Hillcrest Drive down to Water Street, Union Street from Vine Street to Washington Street, Main Street from Bigelow Avenue southbound to Saunders Street, Edwina Street back over to Bigelow Avenue and the Bigelow down to Bell Street. She said the village would have to resubmit the paperwork for the USDA to give Dundee the additional $350,000 in grant funds, but added the board wants to know what the public's interest is on this project.
Sutherland said she will be sending out a notice to residents outlining the village's options and possible water rate increases. Sutherland said the current water rate for an average home in the village is $448 a year.
"Depending on which way the board wants to go, it could cost [an additional] $66 a year or it could cost [an additional] $96," Sutherland said. "So anywhere from $66 up to $96."
Sutherland said the board's biggest concern is that the project only covers "about 20 percent of the lines," while the village will be paying the price over the next 38 years. However, she said the lines were put in back in 1929.

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