The St. John Town Council on Aug. 27 approved multiple public-works contracts and task orders and deferred a design-and-bidding agreement while requesting further review.

The council voted to award the bid for the Prairie West Park lot expansion to Althoff Inc. for $241,475.47. It also approved an agreement with First Group Engineering Inc. for the 2025 pavement ratings, sign and sidewalk inventory and asset management plan not to exceed $79,800. Evan, a First Group representative, told the council the PASER ratings and sign inventory produce maps, condition reports and photos required for LTAP and Community Crossings submittals.

Council members deferred a separate First Group contract for design-and-bidding services (not to exceed $73,300) after one member asked for more time to compare private bids. Evan said deferring that item would not jeopardize the Community Crossings schedule because the program’s call had shifted to October and the town could still prepare a package for design.

Robinson Engineering task orders for stormwater and culvert repairs were approved. Dave Schilling of Robinson Engineering described two 48-inch corrugated metal culverts on Osage Drive and West 80 First Court with rusted bottoms and an eroded top section; he recommended cured-in-place pipelining as a replacement method that avoids full road excavation. The council approved Task Order 2059 for design of the Osage/80 First Court culvert project (not to exceed $38,000) and Task Order 2010 for Hedwig and Fellberg drainage improvements (not to exceed $22,000). Schilling said the Hedwig and Fellberg work aims to regrade or reroute runoff into an existing retention pond to address poor winter drainage.

Evan also explained that the Joliet Street pathway project, originally planned as a path on the south side of Joliet Street, will be delayed because auxiliary lanes and passing blisters in the existing right-of-way require a redesign; the project will be rebid late winter for construction next season and will include a third lane in the new configuration.

Motions to award contracts and approve task orders passed by voice votes with recorded tallies where noted (for example, the Althoff bid carried 5–0). The design-and-bidding agreement was deferred by unanimous vote so the council could review additional bids.

The actions move several capital and maintenance projects forward while preserving time for competitive-bid review of a larger design contract. Cost estimates and cash-flow planning were requested by council members to sequence the projects across coming seasons.