Dixmoor receives $2 million for new water main project
BY TIA CAROL JONES
In 2021, for more than two weeks, the 3,500 residents in the
Village of Dixmoor didn’t have access to clean water due to
leaks, which disabled the system and kept it from filling the water storage tank.
“On behalf of the Village officials, we want to say thank you
for your help in this time of need. Only together, can we improve the quality of life of those who count on us to be their voice. On behalf of the Residents of the Village of Dixmoor, we again say thank you for having a heart big enough to not
only hear our concerns but to leap in action to fix an issue that we have been plagued with for far too long. It is moments like these that remind us that there are still people in this world who truly believe in service and selfless
love,” said Roberts in a statement.
Culberson said in a released statement that the money would be used to lay the foundation for the project, which would provide environmental benefits for the Village.
Dixmoor has always needed a lot of services. It sits within Simms’ 5th District.
“Dixmoor has had the water issues, they’ve had housing issues, they’ve had a myriad of issues since I’ve been elected. It is great to have the President [Preckwinkle] here and have the President understand this was a priority,” Simms said.
Preckwinkle expressed her gratitude for Simms bringing the issue of Dixmoor’s water supply woes to the Cook County Board. The Cook County Board was able to bring the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security to help with supplying water to the Village. Then, the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management and Department of Facilities Management have worked to figure out how the county could be supportive to Dixmoor.
Out of the $2 million that Dixmoor received, $1.5 million was the federal government. An estimated $500,000 is from the County.
“It’s a combination of Federal and County resources that will begin to address the water infrastructure challenges we have in the Southland. And, we know this is symptomatic of broader issues in water infrastructure in the Southland and that’s one of the things we’re going to try to address with our American Rescue Plan resources,” Preckwinkle said.
Kelly looks at the $2 million for the new water main project as a way to improve the quality of life for the residents of Dixmoor. Kelly has worked with the Army Corps of Engineers all across her District, which also includes Olympia Fields, Hazel Crest and Richton Park.
“This project is another example of the progress possible when government agencies work together for the common good,” Kelly said in a release. “It makes me incredibly proud to deliver positive, life-changing improvements to the people we swore to serve. It is even more fulfilling when the work is done as a group with other fantastic agencies, like Cook County, the Village and the Army Corps of Engineers. Together, three levels of government – federal, county and village officials – each brought valuable, but different, resources to the table, enabling all of us to achieve something that was unlikely without such close cooperation and coordination.”
