Hinsdale Defends Track Record On Getting Grants

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale Village President Tom Cauley on Tuesday defended the village's track record in getting grants for projects.

Over the last decade, he said the village has obtained $29 million in grants.

Cauley, who is not seeking re-election, said he attended a recent candidate forum and heard a suggestion that the village doesn't do enough to get such outside money.

He did not say who made the suggestion or identify the candidate forum, possibly the Hinsdalean newspaper's recent event.

The Village Board candidates are incumbents Matt Posthuma, Neale Byrnes and Michelle Fisher, who are running as a team, and newcomer Carlos Aparicio. Former DuPage County Board member Greg Hart is the lone candidate for village president.

In his Patch questionnaire, Aparicio said that by making the most of available money, including state and federal grants, the village can enhance and modernize its infrastructure while keeping taxes reasonable.

"My priority is to make sure every tax dollar is spent wisely and that we’re taking full advantage of available state, county, and federal funding to reduce the strain on local taxpayers," Aparicio said.

At Tuesday's Village Board meeting, Cauley listed some of the bigger grants over the last 10 years:

• $10 million Oak Street bridge project, entirely paid for with state and federal grants.
• $2.1 million Illinois Tollway grant for Orchard Place flood improvements.
• $1 million grant from the state and Metra for the parking deck.
• $850,000 state grant for a new fire engine.
• $650,000 state grant for the Hinsdale Community Pool.
• $373,000 DuPage County grant for work on Fifth Street, Garfield Avenue and Charleston Road.
• $250,000 grant for repairs to the police department's gun range.

"These have been accomplished through our relationship with leaders at the federal, state and local levels," Cauley said.