Proposed streetscape enhancements in downtown Barrington would include improvements at the intersection of Cook and Station streets. | Courtesy of Barrington/Kimley-Horn
By Steve Zalusky | Daily Herald
Barrington officials presented a proposal this week to borrow $3 million to pay for downtown streetscape improvements set to begin this year.
Village Manager Scott Anderson shared a plan with the village board Monday that would involve issuing general obligation bonds to be paid over 15 years. Principle and interest would be paid using home rule sales tax revenues.
Slated for a makeover includes the area around Cook and Station streets, which will be enhanced with planters, seat walls and pavers.
The village also is considering hiring Leopardo Construction as a construction manager rather than going to bid.
Director of Development Services Jennifer Tennant said Leopardo would fine tune the final design, seek subcontractors to find the best prices, and coordinate with village businesses. The company would work within a maximum price and share cost savings with the village.
Village trustees had questions about the bond issue and construction manager plan.
“It feels like a long time for debt that maybe we don’t need,” Trustee Kate Duncan said. “We are supposed to be allocating this money from home rule sales taxes to projects exactly like this. I’m not interested in overburdening myself or my neighbors with increased taxes.”
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