WESTON—The Village of Weston Council met on March 16, 2026, to navigate a dense agenda focused on securing state funding, addressing long-standing drainage issues, and finalizing plans for a major 2025 resurfacing project. Mayor Rick Easterwood and council members Craig Warner, Travis Ackerman, Erica Rupp, Ashley Patel, Jessica Susor, and Brittney Klockowski balanced immediate village repairs with long-term strategic investments.


Navigating State Capital Budget Opportunities


A primary focus of the meeting was a strategic update regarding $60,000 in state grant funding secured by Representative Haraz Ghanbari’s office. While the money has already been granted to the village, the council discussed the specific administrative process required for reimbursement.

The village was previously given the opportunity to find alternative ways to use these funds after moving away from a splash pad project and historical signage; at that time, the council chose to look into utilizing the money for technology and infrastructure. Council member Jessica Susor detailed her efforts to "throw it wide" in the funding application to ensure the village could recoup costs for various needs. She and council member Klockowski made significant efforts to ensure the village met the deadlines for funding considerations. While cybersecurity remains a priority—especially with new state and federal inclusivity and accessibility mandates coming in 2027—Susor discovered the village could apply for stormwater drainage reimbursement. This approach allows the village to potentially recover costs for emergency catch basin repairs and larger drainage projects throughout the village limits.

It's expected that the efforts needed to gain compliance to the State's new cybersecurity requirements, along with the upcoming need to bring the Village's publications into ADA compliance, will fall far short of the total funds available from the grant repositioning opportunity leaving room for a secondary project.


Tackling the Washington Street Drainage Crisis


The persistent flooding on Washington Street sparked a detailed discussion on the limitations of traditional grant structures versus the village's specific needs. While some environmental grants focus on "green infrastructure" like bioswales or porous pavement, experts from the Delta Institute advised the Public Works committee that these are not a good fit for Washington Street's unique conditions.

The council clarified that the issue is not a lack of catch basins, as many are already installed, but rather the underlying piping and its location. By reframing the village’s request around "stormwater drainage" rather than "floodplain management," the village hopes to utilize a $30,000 portion of the funding for Washington Street—if possible—while also providing a template to address similar issues in other areas of town, including the business district which has a known need.

Recent weather has shown that the current infrastructure in place, and the ditches that ultimately provide the drainage can be overwhelmed, causing parts of town to hold water for weeks. The Village Council continues to put efforts into staying on the County's radar, specifically their ditch clean-out program, but there that been acknowledgements that even that may not be a silver bullet fix.


Finalizing the 2025 Resurfacing Program


Significant progress was made on the 2025 Resurfacing Program as the council reviewed bid recommendations from OHM Engineering. The project, which had an engineering estimate of approximately $391,000, received several competitive bids from regional contractors.

Following the engineer's recommendation, the council voted to move forward with Helms and Sons Excavating, the lowest bidder at $362,196.50. The project is expansive, covering the paving of Taylor Street from SR 235 to Main Street, the North end of Downtown Main Street, and sections of Cherry Street moving eastward. The scope includes upgrading intersections to be ADA-compliant, replacing 100 linear feet of curbing, and relocating certain crosswalks to ensure they align properly.


Additional Council Actions and Reports


  • Milton Street Infrastructure: An issue at the intersection of Milton Street and Taylor was approved by the administrator to move forward. The village will conduct discovery to determine if the damage was caused by a nearby water line project; if so, the village will seek reimbursement from the Northwest Water and Sewer District (NWWSD).
  • Storm Damage & Brush Guidelines: There is currently an abundance of brush in the right-of-way curb area following recent high winds. The administrator will pick up brush that is clearly storm-related. However, residents are reminded that brush created from intentional trimming must be held back and placed at the curb no more than 14 days before the official brush pickup starting April 26th.
  • Alumni Park Repairs: Council passed an emergency reading to appropriate funds for a new basketball backboard at Alumni Park. The previous tempered glass backboard was vandalized, and the council opted for a more durable polycarbonate replacement.
  • Public Records & Technology: Members discussed the need for dedicated village laptops for boards and committees to ensure public records are handled correctly and to protect official data.
  • Maintenance & Trash Pickup: A heavy trash pickup is scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd, from 8:00 AM to Noon at the former bus garage property.
  • Community Events: The Village Easter Egg Hunt is set for March 28th at the ball diamonds.
  • Personnel: In addition to the Village Clerk position currently being advertised, council voted to advertise for seasonal maintenance help and a freelance grant writer to assist with future funding applications.