WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The Waukegan Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on May 19 approved a slate of 2025 procurement resolutions, awarding mowing, asphalt, concrete, hydrant and manhole supplies contracts and authorizing a sole-source root-control vendor, and it approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to fund resurfacing of South Sheridan Road.

The committee approved the annual and periodic mowing contracts for G and S Services of Illinois Inc.; a rebid for manhole and catch-basin frames and grates to EJ USA; an asphalt commodities award to Peter Baker & Son; as-needed concrete procurement; a rebid for hydrant assemblies to EJ USA; and a sole-source authorization for Dukes for root control services. It also approved an amendment to an IDOT intergovernmental agreement that adds $102,277.79 to the project budget for the Sheridan Road resurfacing between Washington Street and the south terminus. All motions passed on roll call.

Why it matters: The combined authorizations cover routine maintenance and small capital supplies citywide and one federally funded pavement rehabilitation project. The Sheridan Road item is part of a Surface Transportation Program (STP) local program TIP-funded project (TIP ID 10-22-0024) secured through the Lake County Council of Mayors and the Chicago metropolitan planning process; the city reported it received 100% federal funding with no local match required.

Most motions were routine and met with little debate. Staff stressed that several bids and purchase totals are estimates because actual quantities depend on field conditions. On the hydrant assemblies and the manhole and grate rebid, staff noted uncertainty about the number of units that will be needed this year. “We don’t know exactly how many we’re going to need,” the committee chair said during discussion of the manhole and catch basin rebid, noting the memo lists an anticipated amount of $65,000. When asked about the average number of hydrants replaced annually, staff member Antonio said, “There’s no real clear number because so many that are hit by cars,” and explained replacements also occur during hydrant flushing, water-main work and after reports from the fire department.

The committee approved the following motions (votes at a glance):

- Award 2025 weekly mowing contract to G and S Services of Illinois Inc., $53,948 — passed (Ayes: Alderman Flori; Alderman Martinez; Alderman Newsom; Alderman Downer).

- Award 2025 biweekly mowing contract to G and S Services of Illinois Inc., $57,000 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer).

- Award 2025 mowing (every six weeks) contract to G and S Services of Illinois Inc., $19,800 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer).

- Award 2025 cemetery mowing contract to G and S Services of Illinois Inc., $27,000 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer).

- Award 2025 manhole and catch basin frames and grates rebid to EJ USA (pricing per bid tab; memo notes anticipated amount $65,000; final quantity not specified) — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer). Note: staff said quantities are uncertain and the $65,000 figure is an anticipated amount for transparency.

- Award 2025 annual commodities bid for asphalt to Peter Baker & Son, not to exceed $250,000 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer). The bid opening produced one bidder and staff indicated up to $250,000 may be spent for asphalt this year.

- Approve procurement of concrete on an as-needed basis, not to exceed $250,000 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer). Staff said buying concrete as needed provided better pricing and vendor access than an annual bid; projects requiring competitive bidding will be bid separately and brought to council.

- Award 2025 hydrant assemblies rebid to EJ USA Inc., not to exceed $100,000 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer). Staff acknowledged the exact number of hydrants to be replaced is unpredictable and depends on collisions, flushing and water-main incidents.

- Authorize sole-source utilization of Dukes for root-control services per city purchasing code Section 2-4-58(I)(1), not to exceed $30,000 (funds charged to line item 555913024438) — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer).

- Approve amendment to intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to appropriate an additional $102,277.79 for resurfacing South Sheridan Road (Washington Street to south terminus); lowest responsible bidder exceeded the engineer’s estimate by $102,277.79, yielding a total contract amount of $605,277.79 — passed (Ayes: Flori; Martinez; Newsom; Downer). Staff said the project was programmed through the Lake County Council of Mayors and the regional TIP process (TIP ID 10-22-0024) and that the city secured 100% federal funding with no local match.

Other business: The committee approved minutes from the April 21, 2025 meeting and the meeting adjourned at 6:08 p.m. During reports and communications, committee members raised recycling enforcement after residents’ carts were pulled for contamination. The chair described the local contractor’s warning process and said residents can obtain a replacement refuse cart through that contractor for a fee. “If they pay for it, they can,” the chair said; staff noted the fee is roughly $60, which a member characterized as about $5 a month.

What’s next: Most items were approvals to proceed within current budget lines; projects requiring further council action (for example, larger capital projects or those needing competitive bidding) will be brought forward to the full city council as required.