Big capital improvement projects are coming to the village of Riverside as part of its 10-year capital improvement project.

Riverside is planning to spend $6.74 million and issue $1.27 million in general obligation limited tax bonds to spend on capital improvement projects in 2024.

Jessica Frances, the village manager, said the bond issuance will not increase property taxes as the village is issuing new debt for debt that was previously paid off. 

She said the debt level has not changed since limited tax authority was afforded to non-home rule communities.

The bond proceeds will be used over three years, which is more than $600,000 per year, Frances said.

The 2024 Capital Improvement Plan increased by $1.31 million or 24.08% from 2023 projected year-end total of $5.43 million. 

This increase is because of the purchase of an ambulance and fire truck, which were originally planned for 2023, but manufacturing delayed delivery until 2024.

“We have aging infrastructures and it has been a priority of the board to address those aging facilities cause the costs aren’t going to decrease,” Frances said. “They’re only going to continue to increase and compound year over year.”

Frances said the biggest expenses for the plan will be remediation of the youth center, water tower and public safety facilities like fire stations and police stations. Although exact funding for the project is not yet determined, Frances said another big expense will be renders for these projects from Williams Architects.

“The next step would be coming up with renderings and figuring out a phasing for those different projects,” Frances said.

According to the evaluation, the youth center located at 45 Riverside Road was built in 1958 and is in poor condition.

Although the facility is called a youth center, the building is used to house police equipment and storage, fire department offices, Riverside TV studio, training space for police and fire department and garage space for police vehicles, according to Frances.

The same evaluation shows there is a rusted steel post, rusted exterior stairs, rusted steel and wood deterioration, among other problems. 

The building is not ADA-compliant because it had no elevator access to the upper level. 

The water tower, initially constructed in 1913 as the Water Works, is surrounded by single-story rooms that are home to the Parks and Recreation Department. 

The physical condition is good and it has been well maintained. However, front doors are heavy and difficult to open. Offices and multi-purpose rooms are small. 

Storage of supplies and files have crept into the multi-purpose rooms. 

Frances said the other improvements that cost $50,000 and more include:

  • $750,000 – fire engine
  • $300,410 – ambulance
  • $180,000 – public works bucket truck
  • $70,000 – fire vehicle replacements
  • $220,000 – police vehicle replacements
  • $75,000 – police department body and vehicle cameras
  • $57,000 – village wide and flock cameras
  • $120,000 – police and fire radio replacement
  • $675,000 – facility improvements, municipal repairs and beginning phase of facility redesign
  • $1,336,768 – street and sidewalk expenses including: Riverside Road and Lionel Road resurfacing, sidewalk replacement and Forest Avenue and East Avenue engineering for streetscape project
  • $560,000 – EV charging stations – Type 3
  • $442,202 – reconstruction parking lot 8 with pavers

Frances said the village is planning to approve the exact amount and needed renovation in January.