Homer Glen board approves bid to seek $3M for sewer extension, $1M for senior water‑bill relief
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Summary
The Village Board authorized staff to seek $3 million in congressional funding for a one‑mile sanitary sewer trunk extension and $1 million to provide financial relief for senior residents with high water bills, citing long‑term utility independence and economic development along 159th Street.
HOMER GLEN, Ill. — At its meeting in late January, the Village of Homer Glen’s Board of Trustees voted to authorize submission of a fiscal‑year 2026 congressional directed funding request seeking $3,000,000 to support construction of a roughly one‑mile sanitary sewer trunk extension along 159th Street and Cedar Road and $1,000,000 to provide financial relief to senior residents facing high water bills.
Board members said the sewer extension is intended to reduce the village’s dependence on private utility agreements and support orderly development on and near 159th Street. Mayor Nyskie Trike said pursuing grant funding directs federal and state dollars to local priorities: “If that money is going to be spent somewhere … wouldn’t we want that money put in our own town?”
Why it matters: Village engineers and trustees said the extension would service undeveloped parcels east and west of the Cedar Road/159th Street intersection, enabling future development and allowing the village to operate its own wastewater infrastructure rather than rely solely on Illinois American Water and intergovernmental agreements. Engineer Brett Westcott described the design work as nearly complete: “We are probably about 99% done with the plan set, I would say,” and said the $3 million ask aligns with an engineer’s estimate for installation.
Board discussion and scope: Trustees described the funding request as part of a broader, multi‑component plan that includes the eventual construction of a wastewater treatment plant before the village’s contract to send flows to Lockport expires in 2030. Trustees also discussed project scale and financing: one trustee described a $5,500,000 overall project estimate, and Westcott and staff indicated the village expects to combine grants and low‑interest federal loans where available. Mayor Trike and trustees emphasized that the senior‑relief money targets current resident hardship and that pursuing grant funding does not transfer immediate new taxes to residents.
Trustees framed the request as fiscal stewardship and economic development. Trustee Schaller said seeking outside funding “is a responsible step to reduce the burden on local taxpayers,” and Trustee Mueller added that the senior relief component “sums up what this entire board and community stands for.”
Vote and next steps: The board approved the authorization by roll call. Staff said they will continue refining engineer estimates, pursue available grants (including federal programs and EPA funding where applicable), and present follow‑up details to the board as grant and loan opportunities are pursued. If federal funding is secured, acceptance of funds and any required contract approvals would return to the board for final action.
The village manager and engineering staff will provide updates on grant applications and the engineer’s final cost estimate in subsequent board reports.
