Patten Street is due to see work done by 2027, if all applicable deadlines are met.
It’s a long process.
Presenting to the Village Board Monday August 12, Ayres Associates Brian Lambert and Lisa Fugett laid out the grant and other application work to be done before progress can be made on the matter. The village earlier opted to wait until St. Joseph’s had its front work done, lest digging up the street would lead to digging it up again.
In the meantime, the first hurdle is cleared. Televising is completed, the work done August 12 by Flow-Rite Pipe and Sewer Services LLC.
Included in the process before work can begin are several hurdles, including applications, resolutions, and a public hearing.
There is, however, some good news.
“Right now you’re LMI eligible,” Ayres Associate Brian Lambert told the village board at its August meeting. Standing for Low and Middle Income, the LMI distinction means the village is eligible for principle forgiveness once project work begins.
Also included in the application process for grants and other necessities is a Community Development Building Grant (CDBG), while a major deadline comes with a DNR application, called IPA and due in June.
“I think June 2025 is probably optimistic,” Lambert said of the necessary application. “June of 2026 is probably more realistic.”
As to applying, Ayres is willing to help the village with the process—for a price.
“So it would be $10,000 for the initial application and it would be another $15,000 for the administration,” Ayres grant writer Lisa Fugett shared with the board. Ayres would walk the village through the process, but would need permission from the village to work directly with the DNR.
“We do understand that it’s a big undertaking in submitting the plans,” Lambert said.
Among the funding options for Patten Street are two different DNR programs, with a CDBG one as well. Each program could be used to fund different parts of the project, with a 2/3 match from the DNR program. Loans and grants up to $500,000 could be sought by the village to help pay for the work.
As for televising, it makes a difference in the application process.
“Everything bad that you find on that televising report, looks good to the DNR,” said Lambert of establishing the need for the project.
Covering 10 blocks on Patten as well as one block on Soo Street, the televised report indicates eight inch clay pipes, some with roots or cracks, but others relatively fine.
“Do we have special assessments?” Clerk Sandi Isaacs asked.
“The special assessments are probably a ways down the road,” Lambert said. Also included in the process to start work on Patten Street is a public hearing. Village President Bob Geist had a question.
“Does the CDBG grant cover curb and gutter and sidewalks?” he asked.
“If it is a public facility,” Fugett answered. “It would cover anything that’s absolutely necessary to make the public facility necessary.”
Important deadlines for teh Patten Street project are a CPP Plan and Resolution (April 10, 2016), CPP Hearing (April 10, 2026), as well as various resolutions and a CCP class 2 notice in the paper.
The deadline for the next step, the Intent to Apply (ITA) form is October 31.
With planning and deadlines still to be met, Patten Street will see a rebuild.