Project Requests

Background

In the 117^th Congress, the House of Representatives announced the introduction of Member Designated Project and Community Project Funding requests. These direct appropriations will put the Power of the Purse back in the hands of Members of Congress, as the framers had intended, instead of the hands of bureaucrats in the Executive Branch. To ensure full transparency and integrity of this process, I certify that neither I nor my immediate family has any financial interest in the listed projects below.

Community Project Funding

Pontiac Fire Department Substation

Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Fire Chief Jacob Campbell
Address: City of Pontiac, 115 W. Howard St., Pontiac, IL 61764
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: This project will construct a second fire and emergency medical service substation on the west side of the city near the hospital. The substation will help enhance the health and safety of the residents of Pontiac and the surrounding communities as well as help house the additional personnel and apparatus that were added after abruptly expanding emergency services in 2021. It would have three apparatus bays to house two advanced life support (ALS) ambulanced and one fire apparatus, as well as, living quarters to accommodate up to five first responder personnel. The substation would also provide immediate support to the local rural hospital for emergency transfers to higher level care hospitals in Illinois.

Village of Roberts Emergency Water Infrastructure Needs

Request Amount: $113,000
Intended Recipient: Village President Matt Vaughan
Address: Village of Roberts, 118 W. Weldon, Roberts, IL 60962
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The funding would be used for several water infrastructure expenses to their back-up well which is not functional and to their primary well which failed in late 2021. It would also be used to update their water meters and make additional upgrades that are immediately needed for the village.

Channahon Park District Aquatic Center Renovation

Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Michael J. Leonard, Executive Director
Address: Channahon Park District, 24856 W. Eames Street, Channahon, IL 60410
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The Tomahawk Aquatic Center facility needs significant mechanical repairs to fix the critical issue of water loss. To repair the pipes a sizable portion of the concrete in the zero-depth entry area must be removed to replace the pipes. Another serious mechanical issue is in the two water heaters as one is the original heater to the facility and requires replacement as it is well beyond its life expectancy. New features benefitting the community include the addition of a 3,400sq.ft. spray pad play area for toddlers through pre-teens and a second body flume slide for teens and adults.

Earlville New Water Tower

Request Amount: $1,800,000
Intended Recipient: Mayor Mark Actis
Address: City of Earlville, 210 W. Railroad, Box 98, Earlville, 60518
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: This project consists of the construction of a 250,000 gallon capacity elevated storage tank near the Well No. 4 site on the southwest corner of the city limits. The tower will be a water spheroid design (single pedestal) with a spread footing (ring foundation). The tower height will be 120 feet to high water level (overflow). Interior and exterior shall consist of a 3-coat paint system. The access tube shall be 48-inch and riser shall be 12-inch steel with PVC or aluminum jacket insulation.

City of Morris East Side Water Treatment Plant and Wells

Request Amount: $17,321,665
Intended Recipient: Mayor Chris Brown
Address: City of Morris, 700 N. Division St., Morris, IL 60450
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The City of Morris plans to construct a new 3.0 MGD water treatment plant and additional wells to service its north and east sides. Major commercial and industrial growth is expected in these areas in the short- and long-term. The project involves the construction of two new deep wells and raw water supply lines to provide raw water to the proposed softening facilities. Additionally, a new finished water main will be constructed to fill the City’s current elevated storage tank. An existing pressure reducing valve will need to be located to the intersection of Ashley Rd. and Gun Club Rd.

City of Spring Valley West Interceptor Sanitary Sewer Replacement

Request Amount: $441,619
Intended Recipient: Becky Hansen
Address: City of Spring Valley, 215 N. Greenwood, Spring Valley, IL 61362
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The interceptor sewer is aging and too small for the capacity needed for the city’s needs. The pipe has blockages and failures that have led to Combined Sewer overflows into the Illinois River. Upsizing will allow for future expansion to Interstate 80, northwest of the city.

Wilmington Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Charging Stations

Request Amount: $750,000
Intended Recipient: Jeannine Smith
Address: City of Wilmington, 1165 S. Water Street, Wilmington, IL 60481
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The project will provide Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) Stations for Electric Vehicles (EVs). The charging stations are proposed to be open to public use for local Wilmington and Will County residents and travelers along the Interstate 55 Corridor. Based on the proximity to the interstate, higher powered DCFC Stations are recommended to deliver attractive charging speeds. Depending on the funds received, this site is estimated to include two to six DCFC’s and will be set up for future expansion to add additional stations as demand requires. The site is a planned retail center which makes this a desirable and safe stop for drivers of EV’s. The stations will be supplemented by solar canopies to provide renewable energy as a source of power for the site improvements and support local and national renewable energy initiatives. Partnerships with regional and national charging networks will be explored to maximize the exposure of the station to the EV community.

Compton Community Fire Protection District New Fireman’s Turnout Gear

Request Amount: $23,345.55
Intended Recipient: Henry Orzech – Treasurer of Compton Comm. Fire Protection District
Address: Compton Community Fire Protection District, 339 Cherry Street, PO Box 20, Compton, IL 61318
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: This project would help cover the cost of nine new turn-out gear sets (coats and pants) for the volunteer firemen within the district. This new gear replacement is to provide gear that meets new current safety requirements, as the old gear is 18 years old and is currently out-of-date.

IVCC Agriculture Greenhouse

Request Amount: $250,000
Intended Recipient: Dr. Matt Seaton
Address: Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Street, Oglesby, IL 61348
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) is in the process of developing a new agriculture campus to be located in the midst of its 153-acre IVCC Farm located on the southern edge of the IVCC main campus. Phase 1, completed in FY21, was the construction of a 6,000 square foot maintenance and storage building to house the IVCC Ag farm equipment. Phase II, now in the fundraising stage, will be the construction of an agriculture education center complete with state-of-the-art lab and classroom space along with student collaborative space, faculty offices and conference space. The greenhouse will be located adjacent to the agriculture education center as it will be a vital component of the IVCC Ag Agronomy education program.

Mt. Morris Fire Protection District Fire Station Project

Request Amount: $1,000,000
Intended Recipient: Chief Rob Hough
Address: Mt. Morris Fire Protection District, 15 E. Center Street, Mount Morris, IL 61054
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The Mt. Morris Fire Protection District is in need of a new station. Their existing facility requires many physical accommodations and functional sacrifices daily by the firefighters and needs to be replaced. It is obsolete by modern fire service planning standards and has reached the end of its useful life as a fire station. Substantial expenditures can be made to improve and maintain this facility, but most physical deficiencies will still exist. Current standards and requirements for firefighter safety, health, education, and efficiency cannot be met with this facility, which endangers our firefighters as well as our entire service population. Proper storage and maintenance of very expensive fire service apparatus is difficult at best with no room in the building or on the site for improvement or expansion.

Grundy County Subsidized Senior Housing

Request Amount: $1,497,500
Intended Recipient: Village Administrator Matt Fritz
Address: Village of Coal City, 515 S. Broadway, Coal City, IL 60416
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: Utility extension of the Water and Sewer Utilities will enable the Grundy County Housing Authority to construct in partnership with other development authorities housing units for federally qualified senior residents in need of senior subsidized housing units. This request extends the water and sanitary utilities from their current end points to accommodate these new senior dwelling units.

Village of DePue Waste Water Treatment Plant Dike Raising

Request Amount: $3,255,417
Intended Recipient: Jane Vickers
Address: Village of DePue, 111 W. Second Street, PO Box 500, DePue, IL 61322
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The project involves raising the dike around the Waste Water Treatment Plant because it needs to be raised to protect the facility from flooding of the Illinois River. Raising of the dike involves the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-mandated excavation of a compensatory storage, but all soil in the area is contaminated, requiring special and very expensive disposal.

Hennepin Water District – Watermain Replacements

Request Amount: $510,000
Intended Recipient: Rich Cattani
Address: Hennepin Public Water District, Power Plant Road, Hennepin, IL 61327
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: With this funding the Hennepin Water District will replace 4” and 6” transite (asbestos-cement) watermains with PVC watermains in the commercial area in the Village of Hennepin.

Village of Tiskilwa Water Tower Replacement

Request Amount: $500,000
Intended Recipient: Village President Michael Murray
Address: Village of Tiskilwa, 236 W. Main Street, PO Box 433, Tiskilwa, IL 61368
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: This project will replace the old and undersized concrete tank that is buried on top of a hill, on the west side of the town, that is not easily accessible. With this water tower, water can more easily be distributed throughout the Village with the use of the water pressure that water towers provide. This new water tower will allow for easy access and will ensure the health and safety of the community, as it will ensure potable water and better fire protection.

US Route 6 – Will County

Request Amount: $1,500,000
Intended Recipient: Elaine Bottomley
Address: Will County, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432
Signed Financial Disclosure Letter: Link
Project Description: The purpose of the project is to improve safety for all vehicles and trucks along US Route 6. The area is projected to see an increase in traffic due to varying factors, including the increased number of intermodal campuses off of I-55. This project will mitigate congestion at the intersection of I-55 and I-80, providing a more direct route to the intermodal facilities. This will reduce vehicle miles traveled, decrease vehicle emissions being disbursed into local communities, and minimize the impact of trucks on local roadways.