Sherwood board narrows scope and funds design for broad road and stormwater rebuild

Sherwood trustees in 2004 moved from study to design on a multi-street road and stormwater reconstruction program, directing engineering work on Stommel Road, Golf Course Road, Forest Lane, Black Cherry Court, Bridle Lane and a set of nearby courts and trails.

Engineer Gary Rosenbeck and the board emphasized the work is driven by repeated drainage failures and the need to plan for future development. At the Oct. 11 meeting the board revised earlier direction and asked McMahon Associates to develop storm-sewer and ditch design for the stated project list and to prepare full-reconstruction designs (including curb and gutter) for selected streets. Rosenbeck presented alternative cost-allocation methods; the trustees adopted an Incremental Cost Method for oversize storm-sewer costs so that developers, not all taxpayers, bear the extra cost of upsizing lines for future users.

Residents split: Several property owners who attended hearings urged the board to keep rural, non-urban sections citing neighborhood character and petitions opposing curb-and-gutter on some roads. Others, including residents of Forest Lane and Black Cherry Court, described repeated yard flooding that they said only a full storm-sewer rebuild could solve. “We have water surrounding the property in spring and it’s the only way to resolve it,” said resident Kathy Salo, who asked the board to prioritize storm-sewer work in her area.

Board balancing act: Trustees approved design work while deferring some construction decisions and asked staff to pursue grant funding for planning and construction when eligible. The board also approved a proposed municipal debt plan that ties TIF proceeds and bond funding to priority capital projects, a step officials said would reduce immediate levy impacts while enabling larger-scale work.

Next procedural steps: The village engineer will prepare formal plans and a public information meeting for affected property owners; the board will schedule assessment hearings before choosing a construction option. The board also directed staff to prepare draft special-assessment procedures and language for developer agreements in situations where developers agree to waive special-assessment processes for oversize costs.