HILLCREST — Hillcrest village officials discussed water system improvements and potential sewer expansion during this week’s board meeting. The village plans to replace leaking air relief valves at approximately $1,000 each and is rolling out new billing software with email alerts for boil orders or other emergencies. Kaitlin Wright of Baxter & Woodman reiterated the importance of resident cooperation in a state-mandated service line survey, noting about 60 lines remain unverified.
“ At the end of the day, when we get to 2027, if communities have remaining unknowns, both the state and federal government look at that community saying you have to count those as led and now plan to replace them, even if those unknowns are not led, which will ultimately end up costing their residents money because that money has to come from somewhere to facilitate the replacement,” Wright said Wednesday night.
No lead lines have been confirmed, but a service line replacement could cost upwards of $10,000, and those who have ignored the repeated surveys and door to door visits by village representatives could be responsible for that cost in 2027. If you are unsure if you have completed the survey or need assistance in getting your water line checked, contact the Hillcrest village hall.
Officials also discussed applying for a $5 million Illinois EPA unsewered community grant to connect Hillcrest to Rochelle’s sanitary sewer system, including abandonment of septic systems and repiping. Hillcrest Village President Richard Rhoads said public meetings could be scheduled to inform residents about the grant and potential sewer expansion.