HILLCREST — Hillcrest Village trustees on Wednesday heard updates on infrastructure projects, zoning updates, and the possibility of forming a regional police department.
Trustee Tim Ball said he is working with the village ordinance officer to update local ordinances, while Trustee Patricia Garcia has moved to the Health and Welfare Committee. Trustee Jim Wiley reported potholes in need of repair and proposed starting a “Yard of the Week” program to encourage property upkeep.
Building Inspector Aaron Moore presented the September report, which included four reroofs, one driveway, two fences, a pool, and a shed permit. He also said a rough inspection had been completed at a commercial property, where interior work continues and an 8-foot privacy fence is planned.
Moore also asked trustees to clarify zoning along the east side of River Road between Moluf Drive and Ramona Avenue, where parcels are currently classified inconsistently as residential, commercial, and light industrial. The board plans to address the zoning issue in future meetings.
Village President Richard Rhodes raised the idea of creating a Hillcrest police department, possibly in collaboration with other small communities. The board also discussed upcoming community events, including a Halloween celebration on Oct. 24 at the village park. Officials are seeking candy donations for the event.
Engineer Kaitlin Wright with Baxter and Woodman reported that the village’s water main replacement project has been completed, with the final payment made and only under $10,000 in retainage remaining. The project will be repaid through a $35,000 annual loan, or $17,000 every six months.
Trustees reviewed preliminary budget figures for a proposed fabric-covered salt shed to be built on an existing concrete slab. Wright said the company ClearSpan, which specializes in hoop structures, provided estimates showing a possible $15,000 savings depending on the design. Options include cast-in-place concrete walls or concrete blocks. Trustees plan to revisit the project and other vendors in the future.
The board also continued discussions on applying for a potential $5 million unsewered community grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to install a sanitary sewer system in the southern part of Hillcrest. The project could connect to Rochelle’s system and align with future resurfacing work. Wright said the grant window has been delayed, likely due to the federal government shutdown, but the village is moving ahead with environmental sign-offs to remain eligible once applications open.
Hillcrest continues to work on its state-mandated water service line inventory, which must be resubmitted by April 2026. Wright said no lead lines have been found so far, but about 60 service lines remain unverified. The village has mailed bilingual letters and conducted door-to-door visits to collect information. If unknown lines remain by 2027, the village could have to excavate and replace them at its own expense.
“The state will be looking to the village to replace a set number every single year so it ends up being a game that the Hillcrest or the village is going to have to play because they’re on the hook for basically six a year underneath federal law the letting copper rule improvements which is you have 10 years to replace what you have in 2027,” said Wright.
Engineer Kaitlin Wright also noted that this year’s chip seal program cost $41,529, which was under the engineers estimated budget. The proposed 2026 road plan includes work in the Windover subdivision, Oak Avenue, Maple Avenue, Errett Road, and Bethel Road. Trustees also discussed potential repairs to dips along Hillcrest Avenue and may consider alternative pavement treatments such as binder or slurry seal.
