Briefs
A brief hearing was called prior to last week’s regularly scheduled council meeting, so that the village’s engineering consultant could present ideas for future infrastructure projects that could be paid for as part of the federally funded Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG).
Jim Amelio, of Christopher Burke Engineering, Ltd., told the council and the audience about a few projects that could be bankrolled with CDBG dollars. Resurfacing an alley near Washington and Warren streets is one option, and upgrading a water main on a street that has yet to be identified is another possibility.
In any case, if the village is to receive federal money for the projects, the work needs to be done in sections that qualify as low- to moderate-income areas, based on 2000 Census data (the most recent available).
During a later phone conversation with the Forest Park Review, Amelio said the village would likely submit to Cook County (which is dispensing money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) a proposal for two or three projects, asking for $200,000-$300,000. He hopes that at least one project will be OK’d.
“Typically you’ll only get one [grant],” he said, because of the high demand for funding.
Around $10.5 million, total, is available through the program – $300,000 is the maximum amount that can be requested by one entity, Amelio said. The application is not due until February.
Public hearing on village’s tax levy for 2011
The village is holding a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 28, to formally adopt its tax levy for the 2011 tax year.
The council passed a resolution to do so at its last meeting on Nov.14. According to the resolution, the 2011 tax levy will be $6,581,579.
-Nick Moronia
