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Sleepy Hollow outlines nearly $1 million Hillrest water-main replacement and funding choices
Summary
Trustees explained a proposed Hillrest water-main replacement (~2,760 ft) estimated at $966,000 plus engineering and contingencies, described 47 main breaks since July and sketched funding options including a low-interest IEPA loan, bonds/SSA, or an internal loan to limit interest costs.
Trustee Bill presented the board's plan to replace aging east-side water mains, saying the village has recorded dozens of failures in recent years and needs a targeted capital project to stop recurring service interruptions. "Since July 31 we've had 47 water-main breaks," Bill said, and told residents the engineering permit work has been authorized so the village can move toward construction if financing is secured.
The board framed the Hillrest segment as the immediate priority. Bill said the stretch under consideration covers about 2,760 feet and that the engineering estimate is roughly $350 per foot — about $966,000 for construction before engineering and contingencies. The village's east-side mains are ductile iron and are corroding where the ground is persistently wet; the presenter described temporary clamp repairs as a stopgap, not a permanent solution.
Why it matters: Sleepy Hollow buys water from Elgin and must deliver it on local mains it owns; repeated breaks cost the village both repair expenses and lost water. Trustees said the village's current $30 demand fee on water bills cannot fund large capital replacements quickly and that strategic finance planning is required.
Trustees discussed several funding paths. An Illinois EPA low-interest loan (around 2.1%) is one option but can involve a multi-year queue; bonds or a special service area (SSA) could bring faster access at higher cost; trustees also raised using sewer-reserve funds as an internal loan to reduce or avoid external interest. Bill and the village administrator said the finance committee has considered a rate-change scenario; options under review included staged $10 annual increases or a larger single adjustment. "We're probably between raising it $25 or $50," a trustee said while cautioning the board is still weighing phased approaches.
The village has authorized Gerald Hines & Associates for project engineering and permitting work. Trustees said permitting commonly takes months and that a financing decision is likely by April; if funded, construction could occur later this year with a several-month schedule. Board members emphasized phasing and a strategic calendar (1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year plans) to avoid a string of large projects that would strain taxpayers.
Next steps: the finance committee will refine funding recommendations and present options to the full board in advance of April appropriations. Trustees signaled they may seek resident feedback before a referendum; engineering and permitting will continue so the village can move quickly once financing is decided.
