Village prevails in costly road construction lawsuit

During a recent government meeting, officials provided an update on the ongoing issues surrounding the construction of a road in the village, which has been mired in legal and compliance challenges since its inception. The project, contracted in 2019 to TLC and Blackrock for $1 million, faced significant delays and complications due to non-compliance with federal and state regulations, particularly regarding the use of American-made materials.

The village halted construction twice in 2019 after discovering financial discrepancies between the contractors and subcontractors, which prompted the state highway department to intervene. Despite these setbacks, the road was completed in early 2020, but not without issues, as it was found that non-compliant materials had been used, leading to drainage problems.

After refusing to pay the final invoice of over $1.6 million due to these compliance failures, the village faced a lawsuit from TLC. Ultimately, the village prevailed in court, settling for approximately $960,000, significantly less than the original contract amount.

Following the resolution of the lawsuit, village officials sought additional funding from the state legislature to enhance the project. They successfully secured $600,000, along with an additional $150,000 from a legislator looking to allocate unused funds, allowing them to move forward with the long-delayed project.

As the village prepares for the next phase of construction, officials emphasized their commitment to community safety and traffic management. They are open to suggestions for traffic calming measures and plan to prioritize access for residents during construction. Further discussions will take place as the project progresses and funding is finalized.