[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6159117,"mediaKeyId","5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8","parentId",5456819,"title","Waukegan council approves multiple public-works contracts including alley, culvert and pump projects","audioSeconds",499,"startMs",4176000,"endMs",4675000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8&start=4176&end=4675","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8/thumbnail_4176000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6159117/Waukegan/DuPage-County/Illinois/Waukegan-council-approves-multiple-public-works-contracts-including-alley-culvert-and-pump-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159117-070485e7d06ba105ac01f831bdc61d9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779792&Signature=fDaJ2McPsQRqKdxCvU3ZwHB-1ww~t3ZMh5jftmboC2XjtpoHHr9z0qDNZfcrQ4wi8rMPL8E~ZUY3UaIgSAciltrRyTCasVcYL4DJ1z3eV54VybW5RoVlfquisLI8~3sU7liNEe4vhiHBdDkJBNxDxf6Oypp2KuNETj9t6BnUb0gnMZGgVu9ES2OBiwq5tssfy~IrQQQz1H9kMawoyOB18APYIifbSEJSr5dBlZYz1KVSsv44FJNxOwEILX6pFHOFvPC71Zm11VUe0kQ0MIvuvmxsG~0f3j2YFtmdqr8S0b8PhdiUHckPy8KQnBC7cyMZ~ji7AGUbfIvHO-NlS9ZoSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Waukegan, IL","date","2025-07-24T02:58:53.54Z","article","Waukegan aldermen and committee members on July 21 approved multiple public-works and water system contracts and emergency authorizations intended to maintain infrastructure and prepare for seasonal needs.

Major items approved included:

- Alley program (FY26): Award to Chicagoland Paving Contractors Inc., not to exceed $718,995.26; committee vote carried.

- Parking-lot resurfacing (FY26): Award to Superior Paving Inc. not to exceed $340,700 for several municipal lots, including those near the train station and Genesee/Main.

- Lift Station No. 2 generator: Purchase from Rush Power Systems, LLC for a not-to-exceed amount of $74,989. Staff described a roughly 30-week lead time and said the existing generator is in very poor condition; a good-faith waiver under procurement rules was cited to proceed.

- Emergency sewer repairs: Preapproval for expenditures up to $300,000 to Campanella & Sons under a good-faith waiver so the city can respond quickly to urgent sewer issues.

- MFT-funded culvert rehabilitation (2025): Using motor-fuel-tax funds to pay construction costs for culvert rehabilitation at Jackson, Sheridan and County; contract awarded to Campanella & Sons for $3,803,680.20, subject to IDOT approval.

- Lead service-line replacement (DCEO Lewis Avenue project): Award to Joel Kennedy Construction Corp., not to exceed $1,264,333, covering replacement as part of state-backed lead-service remediation.

- Design-build services for pump improvements: Approve Baxter & Woodman and Bowler Construction for VFD (variable frequency drive) improvements to high-service pump No. 5 at a not-to-exceed amount of $794,000; scope covers design, purchase and installation to reduce single-point failure risk.

- Joint-purchase materials and equipment: Awards for sand, gravel and topsoil; purchase of a track loader and a trailer via cooperative purchasing were approved with not-to-exceed amounts in the mid five figures.

Committee comments and context: Staff said many purchases used joint-purchasing or state-authorized vendors and cited equipment lead times (notably 30 weeks for the lift-station generator). The lift-station and pump work were described as necessary to maintain water service reliability; the MFT culvert work must be submitted to the Illinois DOT for approval.

Votes: Each procurement item was approved by roll call in the committees where they were considered. For the larger MFT culvert contract, staff noted the project had been budgeted and IDOT approval will be sought as required.

Next steps: Contractors will be issued purchase orders or notices to proceed; staff will coordinate required state submittals for MFT projects and report on generator delivery timelines and pump-installation schedules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-07-21 City of Waukegan Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","Council and committees approved a slate of public-works procurements July 21: awards for an alley program, parking-lot resurfacing, lift-station generator, emergency sewer repairs, culvert rehabilitations (MFT), lead service-line replacement, and design-build services for a high-service pump VFD upgrade were all approved.","taxTitle","Waukegan, DuPage County, Illinois","taxId",2647,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159122,"Consultants tell Waukegan officials Lot B can support market-rate apartments as demand far outstrips supply",205,7320000,7525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8&start=7320&end=7525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8/thumbnail_7320000.jpg","/articles/6159122/Waukegan/DuPage-County/Illinois/Consultants-tell-Waukegan-officials-Lot-B-can-support-market-rate-apartments-as-demand-far-outstrips-supply","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159122-3e07b1cd8c3dbda24652074d3028bf79/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779792&Signature=gS1N-qm6a-85Aemp5Cebfw1XAlXt~lORp2U1re4cRdHu6vgIMlZqlaNLNdC5G~JokQTbCyx4ic6VscMjYyrq-0iMbP~Sv8ed-uCCtNTL22xlApGplE5ZFpSOZNe-3bGZ0pNJHmGR1ZcrkpXIfeJWY1bTQ3WYzVVd2eEFm~QhWBzrkyi9Hfwa6DzZvkO~nJWBUcsKAh5NJ1YXmAT-7a8KNfbG8~I~Z-~IzBzfl-9GER~u2Wqe4fR0nXMiShYVvGR~7d2LZsQt8YYW4x1Gof2SBHc4TZASTYYMYoi8o5xIJJmjzPzMCGoAIS07ZUeWfj~-XaTJNiytwskQw8P0IERL9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tracy Cross & Associates told Waukegan City Council on July 21 that a market-rate, mid-rise apartment development on Lot B (east of the downtown library) is commercially viable and that Northern Lake County as a whole has a rental-supply shortfall.

Consultants summarized a regional market audit showing vacancy rates well below balanced levels: they reported a 0.7% vacancy for Northern Lake County and just 0.3% for Waukegan among newer, class A/B market-rate product, far below the 5%-6% vacancy typically considered balanced.

The study recommended a project script for Lot B: a five- to six-story building at roughly 100 units, with a unit mix aiming at renter profiles in the market and structured parking integrated into the scheme. The firm projected an initial absorption rate of 10 units per month and said a well-positioned building could reach full occupancy within 12 months; the consultants also said the market could absorb between 1,375 and 2,000 additional market-rate rental units in Northern Lake County over the next five years if supply were introduced.

Consultant Eric of Tracy Cross & Associates explained the assumptions behind the demand estimate, including positive household growth, a sizable renter base (some 43,000 renter households in the region), tight vacancy, and spillover demand from neighboring counties where new supply has been allowed to expand.

Aldermen asked practical questions about parking, market segmentation and the effect of short-term rentals (Airbnb). Consultants said onsite structured parking would be standard, tailored to expected unit mix (a modest parking ratio given an urban site), and that the study did not analyze the short-term-rental market specifically; they noted Airbnb-style conversions in existing stock could tighten housing availability but said the Lot B study focused on conventional market-rate rental demand.

Mayor Sam Cunningham and staff said the study will guide the city's request-for-qualifications (RFQ) for developers on Lot B; staff said they expect to select a development partner in spring 2026 following the RFQ process.

Why it matters: The study provides data-based validation that downtown rental demand exists and gives a recommended product and rent ranges for developers and city negotiators working on Lot B; it is intended to attract private investment onto the city-owned site.","A housing-market study delivered to the City Council finds Northern Lake County and Waukegan face tight rental vacancies and pent-up demand; consultants recommended a mid-rise, 100-unit market-rate building on Lot B and said the market could absorb significantly more new units over the next five years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159127,"Waukegan approves 10-year lease for new cardiac monitors for fire department ambulances",117,1819000,1936000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8&start=1819&end=1936","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8/thumbnail_1819000.jpg","/articles/6159127/Waukegan/DuPage-County/Illinois/Waukegan-approves-10-year-lease-for-new-cardiac-monitors-for-fire-department-ambulances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159127-f6026d15fc9589ddec6e2b8a60a407a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779792&Signature=Tv1sfmLLuU748YAUpFXWCZU~e2WkVsWEt79TgsjxnfimfKrUh~Gt1dxZvgTK8z~e8oGEJWkI1Uhi-8i9JMVcu0~KUEvajDtM2uKoXUAQ2MZMaTPfLGUQG63gpGf8gVp7cGhXdPV0aQu07HdsvV5eL4x6-cEO90Fmoi7NnPGM3QcUCozh9kskQ6WzVnz0dLWq~DC5gGfVh-8wIn0gbDhfDQH2tyxrMVvUhAfuWY0vXN753q-xIQiIyO7PbqotsrQVyEvDRH7DaCkxQJomtjBCHNDr6U4Q5UEX9qUR8mnxtKH9I4qnD6hOCg0Pq8dGZGSYn36dfeiri154KeWxYwz53Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance committee authorized the Waukegan Fire Department on July 21 to enter into a 10-year lease with Zoll for cardiac monitors used on ambulances and fire-response medical units.

The lease calls for 10 annual installments of $74,816.21 over 120 months to cover an initial round of six monitors and a planned refresh in five years. Committee discussion said the first round would equip six ambulances and that the department expects a second round at the five-year mark because monitor technology changes rapidly. The department representative said current monitors are about seven years old and nearing the end of their service life.

Committee members were given an approximate cost-per-unit: the monitors in service now cost about $56,000 apiece to purchase and the next-generation units were projected to cost $60,000 to $65,000 each. Staff said the lease covers device replacement, service contracts and IT fees, as well as consumables such as cables, projecting a 10-year savings of roughly $134,000 compared with buying and replacing with service contracts separately.

Alderman Florian asked for clarification on the number of units and lifecycle planning; staff responded the agreement will cover six units now and a planned upgrade round in five years. The committee approved the lease by roll call.

Funding and administration: The lease payments will be charged to GL code 10302025472. The lease structure was presented as a cost-effective way to manage rapid product obsolescence and ongoing service needs for life-safety equipment.

Outcome: Motion carried; staff will proceed to finalize the lease with Zoll.

What to watch: The department will schedule the upgrade cycle and present implementation details and timelines to the finance committee if requested.","The council's finance committee approved a 10-year lease with Zoll for cardiac monitors covering ambulance fleets; committee was told leasing includes service contract and saves money versus buying and replacing equipment outright.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159132,"Waukegan approves purchase of 2025 Chevy Tahoe police package for community crimes unit",140,1405000,1545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8&start=1405&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8/thumbnail_1405000.jpg","/articles/6159132/Waukegan/DuPage-County/Illinois/Waukegan-approves-purchase-of-2025-Chevy-Tahoe-police-package-for-community-crimes-unit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159132-a6dffbfe9ed30727e5b76395eb3cc129/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779792&Signature=kR4enxux70eANmAuSQ-GuJrESxnGGvIIXLc6t3SeXSXYfLB79Yyg0d2yuMzN42fRq02D9KR6wZ~nFukL8Fzsyb5CV5T~iDp5nqRWrPJSihm8BQMD74y6h0-gBUZj98ADLiHpOUGLZq50~vLGjlO2kLbynaCL9NrWLWBcD3F1v~IXIO6SXGLw4XP8B5yG4lmpFt--NhCT-clzBk7O21z2Vc2tDO1upPpMuSP1LT4zFHLraKP21YV0EVM9L-8g90HQ8KvRhoSlvHL8aK954jEuDsXpPhxb7RIqpVauvJXALN3O4qd4Lh3u8foV2elX8xjTXyYWWyUqwM7BYPKYSLLv5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The finance and purchasing committee voted July 21 to approve the Waukegan Police Department's purchase of a 2025 Chevy Tahoe police-package vehicle from Curry Motors for use by the department's community crimes division.

The vehicle will be used for overt operations including crime suppression and traffic enforcement. The department told aldermen several vehicles in the division were at or near 200,000 miles and required frequent repairs.

The purchase price passed in committee was $58,006.90 (agenda materials list an amount not to exceed $60,306); the committee was told that buying on the authorized state bid through Curry Motors yielded a savings of roughly $2,299.10 off the list price. Funding for the purchase will come from federal forfeiture funds (GL line item 296629625468), a department representative said.

Alderman Hayes questioned whether an existing recently purchased Tahoe could be reconfigured for the community crimes unit instead of buying a new Tahoe, noting displeasure over prior purchases and asking why an earlier 2025 Tahoe could not be reassigned. Mayor Sam Cunningham acknowledged the previously purchased Tahoe was being used by the mayor's office. A police department representative explained police-package Tahoes include manufacturer upgrades for alternators, brakes and wiring and are outfitted to support police equipment; retrofitting a non-police vehicle to meet those demands had not been priced by the department.

Alderman Hayes said he wanted additional information on which vehicles in the fleet would be retired and whether reassignments could reduce new purchases, and the department said it would provide that information.

Outcome: Motion to approve the purchase carried by roll call.

Context and budget: Committee members were told the community crimes unit operates larger vehicles to carry equipment; the new Tahoe is a police-package vehicle purchased via an authorized state bid agent. The police department said the new vehicle will replace vehicles at the end of their service life; the purchase will be funded from federal forfeiture funds, not the general fund.

What was requested: Alderman Hayes asked the police department to provide a short fleet list identifying the specific vehicles to be retired and estimates, if available, for retrofitting existing vehicles to police specifications.

Vote: Committee roll call recorded in minutes: all members present voted in favor.","The finance committee approved buying a 2025 Chevy Tahoe police-package vehicle for the community crimes division, funding the purchase from federal forfeiture funds and citing the need to replace high-mileage vehicles in the unit's fleet.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6159137,"Waukegan aldermen debate raising total liquor licenses; committee holds proposal for more study",862,2071000,2933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8&start=2071&end=2933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456819-08aade2a72ee7c891b2bc336e41716b8/thumbnail_2071000.jpg","/articles/6159137/Waukegan/DuPage-County/Illinois/Waukegan-aldermen-debate-raising-total-liquor-licenses-committee-holds-proposal-for-more-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159137-4db31c8301193267d202e937529bd367/orig.mp4?Expires=1770779792&Signature=dKilV9I9zRWxh6kiR-RMHpJzUbHj07mRZ8UFMHq379wRPvmviiB1E7dnlQ008sKnmQT7JVBLvMDanu7gM9-VniBxsnxaQYbXvSWZzwJCdYAa9uM8vXVHaw0-5H2XA6LUstlIET7Ck3Xq2~XHHC~h6ebfmEXdAU97oD5OHud1dSI1L5mmAOpS8dJvaKPC4BXSPfDlyfVHTyyqiwFwy~H8oykYwsX1ft1Tw8MREqoTotzRLVcmXfpuxxf~7RjTYHg4aJfz9Y74QaugM2LA0e11M-XpVIxuJIXmRpVa5Yd7914n90db9St0SrLJ0cdruN9XqQ3Rl8vHs8kYxWd5XmZOng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A proposed ordinance to increase the total number of Waukegan liquor licenses prompted heated public comment and a detailed discussion by the City Council's finance committee on July 21, and the committee voted to hold the measure for further consideration.

The finance and purchasing committee discussed an ordinance that would increase the city's cap on liquor licenses from 150 to 175. The measure was moved from committee to the council floor for further consideration but ultimately was held over and will return to the finance committee next month for additional review.

Why it matters: The proposal would change the number of businesses eligible to apply for city-issued liquor licenses, and committee members said the change could remove some local discretion over individual license approvals.

Several residents urged caution. Tom Capp, a local business owner, told the committee the downtown already has a troubled license history and warned against approving more licenses for operators with problematic reputations. \"They're telling you everything you need to know,\" Capp said of a particular tavern ownership group.

Rayon Edwards, who spoke during the public-comment period, framed his opposition in public-safety terms and drew on personal experience with alcohol-related harm in his family. \"Alcohol is the number 1 drug in The United States Of America,\" Edwards said, adding that more outlets in neighborhoods could worsen existing problems.

Aldermen split on the question. Alderman Hayes said the council should vet license applicants individually rather than expanding the pool in advance, warning about the downstream costs of policing and neighborhood complaints if license approvals are effectively preauthorized. \"I am adamantly opposed to it,\" Hayes said during the committee debate.

Alderman Donenworth, who moved the measure onto the council agenda, characterized the ordinance as simply increasing the numerical cap and argued applicants would still have to satisfy existing licensing, police and code reviews. \"This is just the maximum number of liquor licenses,\" Donenworth said.

Finance Director Juan explained the draft ordinance would add 25 licenses across categories using historical peak counts back to 2022; some categories would increase by only one or two licenses. Committee members also pressed staff about which categories would change and whether the change would remove the requirement for council review in some cases.

Outcome and next steps: The finance committee voted to hold the item over and will return the proposal to committee for deeper review and for additional information requested by aldermen, including a clearer breakdown of categories, which wards or neighborhoods would be affected, and the effect on public hearing and council review processes.

Context: Several individual license increases (for specific restaurants and banquet venues) were reviewed and approved separately on the council agenda. Those votes do not change the overall cap that this held-over ordinance would alter; the committee's holdover preserves more local review before a final vote on the cap.

What to watch: The measure will return to the finance committee next month. Committee members asked staff to provide a category-by-category plan, examples of comparable cities' per-capita license counts, and analysis of how preapproval would change the council's ability to vet applicants.

Votes at a glance: Finance committee vote to hold the ordinance over: motion carried (roll-call: committee members present voted to hold; detailed roll-call recorded in minutes).","A proposed ordinance to raise the city's ceiling on liquor licenses drew strong objections from residents and several aldermen. Finance and purchasing committee members voted to hold the measure for further committee discussion after public comment and lengthy debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waukegan council approves multiple public-works contracts including alley, culvert and pump projects

Consultants tell Waukegan officials Lot B can support market-rate apartments as demand far outstrips supply

Waukegan approves 10-year lease for new cardiac monitors for fire department ambulances

Waukegan approves purchase of 2025 Chevy Tahoe police package for community crimes unit

Waukegan aldermen debate raising total liquor licenses; committee holds proposal for more study