The village of Franklin Park is seeking volunteers to give their opinion on street upgrades.
In 2014 the village government created a Citizens Committee on Infrastructure. Its purpose is to help the village government prioritize which infrastructure projects — particularly streets — to do first.
“At the last meeting we had five people,” said Village Engineer Dave Talbott. “That’s not a lot of representation.”
The village has lots of streets that need work. According to a 2013 study by engineering firm Clark-Dietz, 10.4 percent of the village’s roads need to be reconstructed and 43.5 percent are in very poor or serious condition.
The study recommended the village spend $4.5 million a year for five years to raise the streets up to fair condition or $6.4 million a year over five years to raise them up to satisfactory condition.
The village, however, doesn’t have nearly that much money available. In March 2014 voters approved a referendum adding one percent to the retail sales tax at Franklin Park businesses. Village President Barrett Pedersen has said that money will used solely for street upgrades.
“We’re looking at $1.25 million a year,” Talbott said.
While the village government applies for grants and has had impacted business kick in on street improvements in an industrial area, ultimately its only consistent source of funding for street improvements is the sale tax revenue. And that means choices have to be made.
Talbott and the village government would prefer that residents have input into those choices.
“Are their options we’re not looking at?” said Talbott. “It keeps the citizens involved on deciding where there community goes and where we should be investing our money.”
Talbott would like to see 20 people on the committee. The responsibilities are light, at a minimum attending a two-hour meeting every three months. No specialized knowledge is required.
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“Some people were concerned that they weren’t competent to serve on it,” Pedersen said. “We’re just looking for points of view and trying to prioritize what streets need work first.”
“We don’t want a whole group of civil engineers,” Talbott said.
Those interested or seeking more information can contact the village at (847) 671-8236.