Village unveils draft five‑year CIP; staff highlights CV Ditch grant to address Lake Charles sediment

The Village’s Public Works director presented a draft five‑year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) on Dec. 17 that staff said totals just under $19 million across five years, with roughly $3.8 million per year on average and a large proportion dedicated to streets and right‑of‑way work.

Key FY26 highlights include road rehabilitation (targeting roughly 8.18 lane miles), sidewalk and ADA improvements, an evaluation of the White Deer Run golf‑course cart underpasses, an expanded LED street‑lighting phase and several facility projects (Village Hall entry ADA/pavers, monument sign replacements, Arbor Theatre pond/retaining‑wall assessments, and public‑works building repairs). Public Works emphasized coordination with Mall‑phase work on Route 60 pedestrian improvements, noting IDOT timing requirements.

Staff also outlined the CV Ditch drainage project, which the village is leading and expects to fund in the budget with $250,000 in the current fiscal year and a $1.8 million reimbursement in the next fiscal year from SMC through DCEO funding; the Vernon Hills Park District is also finalizing a funding share. The project is designed to reduce sediment inflow into Lake Charles and improve water quality; however, staff said the grant does not include full dredging of the existing sediment delta at the lake’s north end, which would require additional funding.

The board and mayor asked whether village‑owned wells and HOA irrigation systems are affected; staff said the design should improve Lake Charles water quality and that additional information on well connections will be provided. Staff said technical agreements (IGA) with regional partners are in final negotiation and that some CIP elements will be brought back in the March budget process and as part of the FY26 ordinance.