Broadview accepts county-funded Baker Tilly water/sewer study, approves Sprouts signage via consent agenda

Broadview trustees approved, as part of the consent agenda, an engagement letter with Baker Tilly Advisory Group LP to assess the village’s water and sewer rates and affordability and granted a zoning variation for signage to accommodate a new Sprouts grocery.

Director Ames told the board Baker Tilly’s scope includes cost-of-service rate studies, five-year projections of operating and capital needs, and a recommendation for customer-assistance and affordability programs. Trustees said the work will be funded through a $250,000 grant from Cook County and noted the village has not raised water rates in five or six years. "This will allow us to do this type of work to assess it, look at where water rate should be," the director said.

The zoning ordinance on the consent agenda would allow signage for Sprouts at 1000 Broadview Village Square; the board member discussing the item said this Sprouts location will be the company’s first in Illinois. The consent agenda — which included the Baker Tilly resolution and the sign variation — passed by roll call 4–0 with Trustees Wimberly and Miller absent.

Mayor Katrina Thompson also announced a Broadview-Westchester Joint Water Agency reservoir groundbreaking scheduled for Friday, May 8 at 11:00 a.m.; she described the project as a roughly 1.2 million-gallon reservoir and an "over $6 million" investment intended to provide up to two days of emergency water supply for the two communities.

The board took no separate roll-call on each consent item; both were approved together as part of the consent agenda.