The Shorewood Village Board of Trustees decided to adopt an ordinance providing for the levy and collection of $1.6 million in property taxes at its Dec. 12 meeting.

In a unanimous vote, officials took action to secure revenue for the fiscal year beginning April 1 and ending March 31, 2018.

The Village’s 2017 levy demonstrates a 25.57 percent increase over the prior year’s request, excluding debt, and it goes on to reveal a change of 0 percent, given there are no property taxes levied for debt service and public building commission leases.

The ordinance, as presented, distributes funds in the amount of $600,983.89 for corporate, $36,741.36 for police protection, $31,492.59 for tort/liability, $675,516.18 for police pension and $294,455.77 for Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

Prior to the board taking action, officials held a public hearing, at which point no constituents commented.

Trustees first discussed the Village’s tax levy at their Committee of the Whole meeting in October, and the board held a first read for the ordinance in November.

The Village must submit its tax levy request to the Will County Clerk’s office no later than Dec. 26.

Proposal for Seil, River roads flow monitoring approved

Also at the meeting, the Board of Trustees took time to consider approving a proposal by RJN Group for Seil and River roads flow monitoring for sanitary sewers.

The measure, as presented, is meant to help the Village evaluate the flow coming from basin No. 7 and determine what, if any, wastewater can be diverted. It places a focus on the flow of water on the west side of River Road that is not currently directed to the River Road lift station.

“We are looking to have RJN install one flow meter and two rain gauges in this area,” said Chris Drey, superintendent of public works. “With the last upgrade to the lift station at Seil Road, we got the biggest pump we could that would match that force main. With some of the rains we had over the last year, we’ve identified this is a good time to try to look at what options we have to bring some flow.”

A three-month study conducted earlier this year by RJN shows the amount of flow is high to Seil Road, and the lift station has demonstrated challenges in keeping up with the extra flow during heavy weather.

The one-year proposal for flow monitoring is valued at $27,550, and it is to be budgeted for in the Village’s capital improvements plan.

RJN will come out at least monthly to study the situation, and the firm will provide a full report on its activities upon the proposal’s expiration.

Round it up

A brief recap of action and discussion from the Dec. 12 regular meeting of the Shorewood Village Board of Trustees:

• Officials authorized a payment of $12,108.28 to HR Green Inc. for building and code professional services.

• The board approved a final payment in the amount of $63,367.67 to Wilkinson Excavating for Wynstone Park.

• Trustee Anthony Luciano wanted people to know that anyone interested in joining the Citizens Advisory Committee should contact him by visiting the Village’s website. The group will have some topics regarding the Village they intend to examine, with the goal of providing recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

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