The LaGrange Park Village Board on July 22 approved an ordinance authorizing issuance of general obligation alternate revenue bonds not to exceed $5 million to fund the village’s central area sewer separation project and approved design and engineering agreements with Edwin Hancock Engineering Company for project design and related water and sewer maintenance work.
The board’s earlier resolution accepted $4 million in funding assistance from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD); the newly authorized bonds, together with other grants and village reserves, will fund the work. Finance staff told trustees the anticipated annual debt service on the proposed bonds is expected to be roughly equal to the village’s current sewer debt service, so no sewer-rate increase is required to support the new debt, and the ordinance allows flexibility in structuring the sale. The bond-counsel engagement with Chapman and Cutler LLP for related legal services was approved; the firm’s fee for bond counsel was stated at $26,000.
Separately, the board approved final design engineering agreements with Hancock for the central area sewer separation (final design not to exceed $100,000), a Homestead Road water-main replacement design agreement (design fee authorization up to $125,600), a package of roadway maintenance design services ($32,000), and sewer maintenance/repair engineering ($53,500). Staff said grant coordination with MWRD and HUD is underway and that the central-area project is targeted for construction in 2026 and 2027, with tentative bid schedules pointing to awards between December 2025 and February 2026 depending on grant execution.
Discussion vs. decision: the bond ordinance and engagement of Hancock and Chapman and Cutler were formal actions approved by roll call; staff and trustees described the project schedule, funding sources (MWRD grant, HUD, DCEO, and village reserves), and the intent to proceed to bid once design and grant agreements are in place.
Votes: the ordinance authorizing bonds and the professional-services resolutions passed unanimously by roll call.