Waukegan Public Works committee approves $6.5 million in road, equipment and service contracts; restates county sewer agreement

The City of Waukegan Public Works & Infrastructure Committee approved a series of resolutions authorizing road work, equipment purchases, professional services contracts and a restated intergovernmental sewer agreement with Lake County.

Key approvals included awarding the fiscal year (FY) 2026 road program to Peter Baker & Son for an amount not to exceed $5,687,601.40; authorization to purchase and install grinder systems for lift stations 1 and 5 from Mississippi Valley Pump for up to $192,300; reclassification of $185,249.47 in design-engineering funds for the Pershing Road culvert replacement with Siobra Group; purchase of two message boards from High Star Traffic not to exceed $33,940; a professional services agreement with Water Treatment Specialist LLC for up to $88,400 (part-time services estimated at about 16–20 hours per week); purchase of a Ford F-600 truck with snow-plow package from Koolman's Auto Group for up to $133,165.70; offshore intake cleaning by Bridal Marine Contractors Inc. for up to $43,750; purchase of a 2026 Mack Granite dump truck from CIT Trucks through Sourcewell contract #032824-MAK for up to $187,833; and approval of a restated and amended intergovernmental sewer disposal agreement with Lake County that replaces a prior agreement entered on 05/12/1992 and directly affects the River Glen subdivision.

Most line items were presented by Public Works staff and moved by Alderman Newsom; many motions were seconded by Alderman Donnerworth (transcript contains multiple spellings of the seconding alderman’s name). Each item was put to roll call and recorded as passing by affirmative votes from Aldermen Turner, Guzman, Donnerworth, Hayes and Newsom.

Votes at a glance

- FY2026 road program award to Peter Baker & Son — not to exceed $5,687,601.40. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Downerworth. Funding: board docs / project lines. Vote: 5–0 (Turner, Guzman, Donnerworth, Hayes, Newsom).

- Grinder systems for lift stations 1 and 5 (Mississippi Valley Pump) — not to exceed $192,300. Motion by Alderman Guzman; second by Alderman Newsom. Funding charged to line items 555916024412 and 555916024494. Vote: 5–0.

- Reclassification of funds for Pershing Road culvert design engineering (Siobra Group) — $185,249.47 reclassified from line 228922824435 to line 312131224435. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Don Worth. Vote: 5–0.

- Purchase of two message boards (High Star Traffic) — not to exceed $33,940. Motion by Alderman Donnerworth; second by Alderman Guzman. Funding charged to line 555913026494. Vote: 5–0.

- Professional services agreement with Water Treatment Specialist LLC — not to exceed $88,400 for operational support at the water plant (part-time, about 16–20 hours/week). Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Donnerworth. Funding charged to line 555916024438. Vote: 5–0.

- Ford F-600 truck with snow-plow package (Koolman's Auto Group) — not to exceed $133,165.70. Motion by Alderman Donnerworth; second by Alderman Newsom. Funding charged to line 307130726362. Vote: 5–0.

- Offshore intake cleaning (Bridal Marine Contractors Inc.) — not to exceed $43,750. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Donnerworth. Vote: 5–0.

- 2026 Mack Granite dump truck (CIT Trucks via Sourcewell contract #032824-MAK) — not to exceed $187,833. Motion by Alderman Donnerworth; second by Alderman Hayes. Funding charged to line 555915426493. Vote: 5–0.

- Restated and amended intergovernmental sewer disposal agreement with Lake County — replaces prior 1992 agreement; described as the third amendment and said to affect the River Glen subdivision and properties west of Hopeland Road. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Hayes. Vote: 5–0.

What council members asked and staff clarified

Council members asked about schedule and scope for the FY2026 road program (questions focused on whether Sixth Street work was already passed in earlier budgets and the timing under the FY2026 fiscal year, which begins May 1). Public Works clarified that the fiscal-year labeling (FY2026) reflects the city's budget year and that actual construction timing may occur within the fiscal year. Staff also confirmed that Peter Baker & Son was the sole bidder on the road program (bid opening 08/05/2025, one bidder recorded).

On the Water Treatment Specialist contract, staff said the engagement is part-time, normally two days per week (roughly 16–20 hours), and the $88,400 cap reflects the not-to-exceed amount depending on hours worked.

Public Works said the message boards would be the city’s first two; previously the city borrowed boards from the county for events such as the Independence Day parade. On the sewer agreement, staff said the amendment removes a previously specified limitation tied to home square footage in the River Glen subdivision (sewer billing instead follows Illinois Environmental Protection Agency population-equivalent calculations) and that the county would not accept a requested billing-window change from 60 to 30 days.

Why it matters

The approvals authorize more than $6.5 million in road, equipment and service contracts and update an intergovernmental sewer agreement that affects new development in the western part of the city. Several purchases address near-term operational needs (message boards, vehicles, grinder systems, intake cleaning) while the sewer agreement affects long-term development and billing relationships with Lake County.

Next steps

Staff will complete contract documents, submit purchase orders, and proceed with scheduling construction or service work as allowed under each contract. The intergovernmental sewer agreement will be finalized with Lake County and implemented for the River Glen development as described by staff.