Oswego board directs engineering for South Harrison, prioritizes nearby road patches with $427,000 MFT surplus

At its recent meeting, the Village Board of Oswego agreed on a recommendation to prioritize designing a South Harrison Street streetscape and to accelerate repairs on nearby residential roads after staff reported about $427,000 in leftover capital funds from the 2025 Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) and CIP road program. Village staff presented four alternatives for the surplus funds, and trustees reached a working consensus on how to allocate the money.

Staff member Kurt introduced the item, saying, “Tonight, we are going to look at 4 alternatives for the surplus funds,” and Andre Jungerman, the village project engineer, told the board that after design and construction the road program came in under budget, “leaving around the 427,000 leftover.” The four alternatives presented were: (1) engineering and preliminary work for South Harrison Street (a streetscape) and an optional Benton Street connector; (2) temporary parking lots at Van Buren or along Adams Street; (3) additional 2025 roadway resurfacing (specific local segments); and (4) reserving the funds for a larger 2026 resurfacing program.

The board discussed estimated engineering and construction costs provided by staff: $205,000 for South Harrison engineering alone, $330,000 additional if the Benton connector engineering is included (about $535,000 total engineering cost), and estimated construction costs of roughly $1,750,000 for South Harrison and $1,200,000 for the Benton connector (staff noted those construction figures do not include potential property or right-of-way acquisition along Benton). Parking options were estimated at $145,000 (about 20 spaces at a site near 612 W. Van Buren) or $25,000 (about 17 spaces adjacent to the silos on Adams). Resurfacing estimates included Millstream Lane (Hoover to Washington) at $192,000, Whitewater Lane (Hoover to the cul-de-sac) at $95,000, and a targeted 4-inch wheel-path repair on Mill Road at $25,000.

Trustee Hughes said she favored advancing the South Harrison streetscape engineering while also noting the high priority residents place on local road repairs: “I would probably do the road improvements first just because that’s what’s necessary and impacts our residents.” Trustee Cooper and Trustee McCarthy Lang also expressed support for funding the South Harrison engineering and advancing repairs on Millstream and Mill Road. Several trustees said they preferred to avoid the temporary Van Buren parking option because it had already generated resident opposition.

Board members and staff discussed timing and next steps. Staff said engineering done in fall 2025 could move construction into 2026 or 2027 depending on scope and right-of-way needs. Board members and staff also discussed seeking outside grants (staff referenced applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) or similar streetscape grants) and noted the TIF timetable as a reason to advance Harrison design work now. Staff reiterated that the Benton connector engineering cost estimate did not include property/right-of-way acquisition.

Rather than a formal roll-call vote on a single motion, the board gave staff direction to: (1) proceed with engineering for the South Harrison streetscape; (2) allocate remaining surplus toward patching and targeted resurfacing (Millstream Lane and Mill Road were repeatedly named); and (3) reserve the option to mix these alternatives (for example, complete Harrison engineering and use remaining funds on road patching), while excluding the Van Buren temporary parking option from priority consideration due to expected public opposition. Staff noted that if the board wanted to accomplish all three priorities immediately, the village could cover a small overage from the general fund but cautioned that general fund reserves are largely earmarked for a new public works facility.

Trustees also asked staff to prepare clear public communication explaining the choice to fund design work for a downtown streetscape (which is less immediately visible to many residents) alongside repairs on residential streets that residents drive daily. Several trustees emphasized that the roads named for accelerated work are already on the 2026 MFT list and would be addressed next year regardless; the surplus allows moving some of that work forward.

The board did not adopt an ordinance or budget amendment at the meeting. Staff will return with recommended contract scopes, final cost estimates (including any needed property acquisitions for Benton), and a communication plan for affected neighborhoods.

Ending: The board followed the discussion with additional agenda items and later entered a closed session. The streetscape engineering and patching direction will be reflected in staff follow-up materials and future agenda items where formal appropriation or contract approvals would be required.