Joliet council approves insurance renewals, engineering contracts, CDBG awards and multiple public-works items; votes at a glance

The Joliet City Council on Sept. 16 approved a slate of administrative, finance and public-works items during committee reports, consent agenda and agenda-item votes, including insurance renewals, engineering contracts, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) subrecipient awards.

Key takeaways

- Property, liability and workers’ compensation renewal: Council approved the city’s property, liability and workers compensation renewal. Staff reported a renewal premium increase of about 16 percent, roughly $300,000 above the prior total, driven by higher building values, claim exposures and wage increases for workers’ compensation. The renewal takes effect Oct. 1.

- Group health, dental, vision and life insurance renewal: Council approved the renewal with Blue Cross. Staff said the plan faces a forecasted 12% increase in claims and an individual hard-cost change; city leaders said they intend to renegotiate benefits design with union leaders as contracts come up to reduce long-term cost growth.

- Laraway Road grade separation and roadway improvement — phase 1 engineering: The council awarded a professional-services contract to Crawford, Murphy & Tilly for phase 1 engineering for the Laraway Road grade separation and roadway improvement (Brandon Road to Illinois Route 53) in the amount of $2,869,964. The council noted the work…