La Grange Park board approves cameras, grant agreements, contracts and places $10 million road-bond question on March ballot

La Grange Park’s Board of Trustees on Sept. 23 voted unanimously on a series of measures covering public-safety equipment purchases, infrastructure grants and professional contracts and approved putting a $10 million road-improvement bond question on the March 17, 2026 ballot.

The board authorized a quote from Minuteman Security and Life Safety for $11,640.74 to purchase and install surveillance cameras at Fire Station No. 2, with the expenditure to be paid from the 30 First Street/Barnsdale business district and TIF funds. Village staff told trustees the cameras will be live but not monitored 24/7, and will store 30 days of footage. Trustee Zorra asked who would monitor the system; staff responded dispatch can display the feeds but constant monitoring is unlikely.

The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to reconstruct the Village Hall front parking lot with green infrastructure. The total eligible project cost is approximately $185,000; MWRD will fund up to 37.8% (not to exceed $69,800) and the village match is about $115,200. Trustees discussed permeable pavers and required operations-and-maintenance planning; staff confirmed an O&M plan is required by the IGA.

Other motions approved unanimously included: - A resolution adopting the Village’s Lead Water Service Line Replacement Assistance Program and policy and appropriating $50,000 from the Lead Water Service Line Replacement Fund for FY25 to support homeowner-side replacements where the village portion is already copper. - A vendor contract waiver and authorization to purchase and plant parkway trees from St. Aubin Nursery, not to exceed $35,000 for FY25–26. - A one-year contract with D. Ryan Tree and Landscape Service LLC for the 2025–26 tree-trimming program in an amount not to exceed $48,528. - Authorization to dispose of surplus police fleet vehicles (a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe with 147,524 miles; a 2021 Ford interceptor utility with ~111,002 miles; and a 2017 Ford interceptor utility with ~71,017 miles) and to sell them by online bid, with proceeds to general funds. - Approval of a façade-and-property revitalization grant for Catnap from the Heart at 1007 E. 30th Street; the business district fund will cover a $245.60 shortfall to meet the requested reimbursement cap. - An ordinance directing staff to submit a referendum question to place on the March 17, 2026 ballot asking voters to authorize up to $10,000,000 in general-obligation bonds for road improvements; bond counsel’s draft question specifies bonds at an interest rate not to exceed 6%. - An ordinance increasing water and sewer rates by 2.9%, effective Jan. 1, 2026, matching the 2024 Consumer Price Index and intended to fund system operations and maintenance.

The board also voted to table the engineering services agreement for the North Village Hall front parking-lot improvements to the Oct. 14 meeting to allow additional time for review.

Why it matters: The votes advance multiple near-term capital and safety projects while securing grant funding and setting up a voter decision on long-term road funding. Several items use TIF or business-district resources; trustees asked staff about fund impacts and long-term operations commitments.

Selected quotes from the meeting: "I think this is great…to have some extra security," Trustee Caputo said in support of the Fire Station camera purchase. "That particular TIF is performing better than anticipated. I don't see any impact to the fund," Village Manager Julia said when asked whether the TIF allocation would affect future uses.

Ending: All measures listed above passed by unanimous roll call. Staff said it will post additional FAQ material about the March bond referendum on the village website and continue outreach to residents.