Hockey Rink Relocation, New Metra Station Among Projects on Libertyville's Budget

LIBERTYVILLE, IL - A new downtown Metra station, $1.75 million in road repairs and over $630,000 in improvements to area park, including the relocation of the hockey rink, are among the projects planned as part of Libertyville's proposed 2017-18 budget.

The public will be able to sound off on the proposed budget during a public hearing on Tuesday during the Libertyville City Council meeting, which starts at 8 p.m. at village hall, and comes ahead of the expected official vote on the budget on April 25.

The upcoming year's $69.4 million budget includes $14 million in capital improvements and is 2.3 percent higher than last year's budget, including to village documents. Libertyville's new places for eating tax, which is expected to bring in $750,000 more annually, and a boost in the general fund, since Libertyville is no longer required to contribute to its emergency 911 fund due to a state requirement to consolidate those services, has helped bolster revenue.

• To see the full budget, visit the village of Libertyville's website
  

Village officials have set aside $1.2 million to fund improvements to the downtown Metra Station and for phase I of parking lot repavement at the Prairie Crossing Metra station, according to the draft budget. An architect has finalized plans for the station and construction is expected start in the second quarter of this year and wrap up in 2018.

Other big-ticket items on the budget include $3 million in improvements to the wastewater plant and $1.75 million for road resurfacing, storm sewer replacements, sidewalk repair and replacement, bridge repair and replacements and a salt bin extensions.

Over $630,000 in park improvements are also planned for the upcoming fiscal year, including $362,500 that has been allocated to relocate a hockey rink within Libertyville.

The former all-season rink at Bolander Park was shut down after the site was sold, the Daily Herald reports. After looking into new locations for a rink, a property adjacent to the softball field at the Libertyville Sports Complex was picked as the best site for the facility.

Other park improvements include $200,000 to replace playground equipment at Adler Park and $25,000 to fund engineering plans for a Adler Pool splash structure.

Photo caption: Downtown Libertyville Metra station/Photo credit: Metra website