Board approves electricity aggregation, culvert and winter services; several landmark and tax items set for later action

The Village of Lake Bluff Board of Trustees on Sept. 29 approved several operational contracts and advanced multiple historic-designation ordinances while deferring or rejecting other measures.

The board voted to award a two-year extension of the village’s electricity aggregation contract to MC Squared Energy Services LLC, accepted a low bid for the Birch Road culvert stabilization project and authorized a one-year snow-removal/salt application agreement with TGF Enterprises Inc. Other items — including a local grocery/home-rule sales tax extension and a demolition contract for 33 East North Avenue — failed to gain the votes needed for final approval.

Why it matters: The electricity aggregation vote continues a program that matches ComEd’s published tariff for participating residents while returning civic contributions to the village; the culvert award and the snow-removal contract are funded from existing capital and operating budgets and affect near-term stormwater and winter operations. Several landmark designations will change property protections for specific parcels once final readings are complete.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution: Power supply agreement (MC Squared Energy Services LLC) — Approved (roll call). Summary: two-year extension to continue the village’s electricity aggregation program; expected civic contributions of $30,000 per year under the new term. Roll call recorded as Aye: Trustee Eshelmas; Trustee Fisher; Trustee Freese; Trustee Kent; Trustee Reiter. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution: Birch Road culvert crossing improvement (construction contract to Everlast Blacktop Inc.) — Approved (roll call). Low responsive bid: $75,300. Funding: FY26 capital fund $50,000 plus $25,300 from the general fund’s street rehabilitation budget. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution: Snow removal and salt services (TGF Enterprises Inc.) — Approved (roll call). One-year agreement includes a $2,500 monthly staging fee ($12,500 total) and a $10,000 monthly minimum ($50,000 total minimum). Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance: Designate 456 Sunrise Ave (Honeywell-Beale House) as a Lake Bluff historic landmark — Approved (second reading; roll call). Outcome: final designation approved; this will be an active local landmark.

- Ordinance: Designate 112 E. North Ave (John Jay and Mary Louise Helming Coach House/Barn) as a Lake Bluff historic landmark — Approved on first reading (voice vote). Final approval to be taken at a subsequent meeting.

- Ordinance: Designate 545 E. Granton Ave as a Lake Bluff historic landmark — Approved on first reading; a motion to waive second reading failed (required five affirmative votes), so second reading will occur at the next meeting and final approval remains pending.

- Resolution: Demolition contract for 33 E. North Ave (Fowler Enterprises LLC, low bid $33,600) — Motion to award failed (roll call). Summary: staff recommended award to the low bidder; public commenters and several trustees raised concerns about bidder references and prior OSHA-related workplace incident reports. Outcome: failed; staff will confer with the village engineer and report back.

- Ordinance: Amendment re: home-rule grocery tax/home-rule sales tax — Motion to approve an extension/temporary sunset (proposal to maintain the current grocery tax through 07/01/2026 unless extended prior to April 2026) failed on roll call. Outcome: failed; no change enacted at this meeting.

What the board said: Village Administrator Drew Urban and other staff provided project and budget context during roll calls; trustees asked questions on procurement history, public-safety liabilities at village-owned parcels, grant and budget timing, and the mechanics of state tax changes.

What’s next: Items that passed on first reading or require further action — the 112 E. North Ave and 545 E. Granton Ave landmark ordinances and any potential rebid or administrative follow-up for the 33 E. North Ave site — will return to a future board meeting for final action.

Ending: The board completed multiple operational approvals that preserve ongoing services and capital work while reserving further review for matters where trustees requested additional information or where statutory reading requirements were not waived.