With 2014 coming to an end, we asked the leaders of Franklin Park, Northlake and Leyden Township what they want to see in 2015. Here’s what they told us.
FRANKLIN PARK
Asked what Franklin Park’s top goals are for 2015, Village President Barrett Pedersen replied without hesitation.
“The top three are infrastructure, infrastructure and infrastructure,” Pedersen said.
Completion of the Westbrook project, which will include separating sewage and stormwater drains, installing lining in some water mains and replacing roads. The project will hopefully reduce water backups and flooding along Elder Lane, Hawthorne Street, Wrightwood Avenue, Richard Avenue and Herrik Avenue, among other streets. This project dates back to at least 2001, when the village first completed a study on the problem.
Connecting water mains along Franklin Avenue to improve the water connection between the east and west parts of the village.
Repairing or replacing many streets. “Reuter subdivision is a top priority,” said Pedersen. “It includes water, sewer and street replacement. You couldn’t go in and doing construction piecemeal because everything is connected to each other.” Design work will start in 2015, with the bulk of construction taking place in 2016.
NORTHLAKE
In Northlake, 2015 will mostly be about infrastructure projects, said Mayor Jeff Sherwin. In addition, officials will keep an eye on the police department as Norm Nissen takes over as police chief from Dennis Koletsos, who is retiring after 16 years.
“We’re making sure the transition for the police department goes smoothly,” said Mayor Jeff Sherwin. “I anticipate it will.”
Among the infrastructure projects are:
The city expects to spend $700,000 on the design for an off-ramp from southbound interstate 294 to eastbound North Avenue in 2015. That’s in addition to the $1,063,733 which has already been spent. The city will be reimbursed 80 percent of the cost from IDOT and another 10 percent from the village of Elmhurst.
Prater Bridge replacement. IDOT will pay 80 percent of the estimated $550,000 cost with the remainder being split between the city and the Addison Creek Conservancy District. Bids will go out in March.
Flood mitigation. Excavation along Addison Creek on the south side of Northlake. The Addison Creek Conservancy District will split the estimated $440,000 cost with Northlake.
Repaving. $1 million to be spent on repaving all of Westward Ho Drive, all of Medill Avenue, the 300 block of Lyndale Avenue, the 200 block of Dewey Avenue and part of frontage road on North Avenue just west of Wolf Road.
UNINCORPORATED LEYDEN TOWNSHIP
Unincorporated Leyden Township has three major projects planned for 2015. While bidding won’t take place until late January or early February, Township Administrator Greg Ignoffo anticipates the projects will coast $1 to $1.3 million total.
Resurfacing and improving the drainage on Winters Drive from Wolf Road to Roberta Avenue. “Winters is pretty patchy over there,” Ignoffo said. “And we need to find a better way to move water toward Grand Avenue drains.
Improving Dickens Road west of Mannheim Road. “It’s a mish-mash of stuff that hasn’t gotten the attention its needed over time,” Ignoffo said. “We’ll do drainage and road restoration.”
Drainage improvement on Scott Street from Palmer Avenue south to Armitage Avenue.