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Sleepy Hollow board zeroes in on water-main repairs, names Hillcrest a top priority
Summary
Trustees heard a finance report outlining 47 water-main breaks since 2020 and an illustrative villagewide replacement estimate in the tens of millions; the board discussed prioritizing a roughly $966,000 Hillcrest replacement and options to self-fund through water rates rather than long-term borrowing.
Trustees at the Sleepy Hollow Village Board meeting on Jan. 20 pressed for a near-term program to replace aging water mains, singling out the Hillcrest neighborhood as the immediate priority. The board heard an analysis of recent breaks, repair costs and financing options and agreed to continue work with the finance committee and village engineer on a concrete plan.
The finance trustee reported that the village has recorded 47 water-main breaks since 2020 and estimated about $300,000 in cumulative repair spending, with an average repair cost of roughly $66,500. "We've had 47 of them," the trustee said, and added that the replacement cost for the village's buried mains could be in the "35 to $40,000,000" range (presented as an illustrative, current-cost estimate). The trustee recommended prioritizing Hillcrest — an approximately 2,760-foot run — which he estimated at about $350 per foot, or roughly $966,000.
Why it matters: Trustees said water reliability is the village's most essential responsibility and argued that planned, prioritized replacements cost less over time than repeated emergency repairs. "If that were to break away in a big way, we would spend a lot of money in an emergency to fix that," the finance trustee said, urging planned work.
Board discussion focused on how to pay for improvements without unduly burdening residents. The finance trustee favored self-funding the initial project through water-rate adjustments and using reserves rather than taking on long-term debt at current interest rates. "My theory is we need to do something now. We cannot wait any farther," he said, while acknowledging the need to balance police and road priorities.
Trustees said they need more detail from the village engineer on timelines and permitting: if the board wants construction this year, paperwork and permit work must start in March. The board asked staff to return to finance with a clear cost-repayment plan and to present grant-eligibility research; trustees also discussed possible material choices such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for challenging soils.
Next steps: The board directed staff and the finance committee to develop a funding and timeline proposal for Hillcrest and other priority runs and to present that plan for a February decision on whether to proceed with construction preparations this year. The conversation remains at the planning/approval stage; no construction contract or borrowing authorization was approved at this meeting.
