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Council approves engineering contract and construction bid for Walnut Avenue lift station, funds from Land Road TIF
Summary
The Freeport City Council approved a $224,250 construction engineering contract and accepted a $2.85 million construction bid to build a lift station on Walnut Avenue, using Land Road TIF funds after debate about timing, scope and necessity.
Freeport — The City Council voted to hire Fairgram for construction engineering at the Walnut Avenue lift station and to award construction to Kelsey Excavating, accepting the project as an eligible Land Road TIF expense. The engineering contract was approved 5-3 and the low construction bid of $2,847,451.50 also passed 5-3 after extended debate about cost, timing and whether the work is immediately necessary.
Council approved a $224,250 contract for on-site construction engineering and observation to oversee installation of the lift station, force main piping and related sewer improvements. The construction contract, opened to public bid, was the lowest responsive offer from Kelsey Excavating.
City Manager Rob Boyer and Public Works Director Darren Stegall said the lift station is intended to convey wastewater from the Lamb Road area to the city interceptor north of the Walnut Road bridge and to avoid a section of sewer that is deep, adjacent to the landfill and difficult to repair. Stegall also said the station will serve existing industry in the district and provide capacity needed for future development and for conveyance related to the Well 12 project.
Alderman Lawrence Sanders repeatedly pressed for a broader study and more historical documentation before moving ahead, saying the council lacked key background and risk analysis. He voted against both measures. Alderman Greg Shadle, who supported the measures, said the city has discussed the lift station for years and cited recent design and committee work as justification.
The administration said the project has been designed and bid; staff expects construction completion in mid‑2026 subject to equipment lead times. The city plans to fund the engineering contract and the construction from the Land Road TIF district. The Grama (design) scope and the Fairgram/Fairgram-named contract (design/engineering referenced in staff materials) were discussed as project partners; construction will follow the engineer-of-record specifications.
Council debate touched on whether the lift station is a near-term need or a longer-range “shovel-ready” investment to attract business. Supporters said the line is at or near capacity and that some industrial customers’ flows already push the system; opponents asked for more study of the landfill-adjacent sewer alignment and detailed cost breakdowns. Staff said the project will bypass the problematic sewer segment, and that not building it would constrain both current customers and planned development.
The council approved the engineering contract and the construction award in separate votes. The construction bid included a contingency line item (~$133,000) for unsuitable soils.
The council’s actions move the city into the construction phase; staff said they will manage permitting, third‑party geotechnical testing, and compliance with state requirements including IEPA documentation and Buy America/Build America certifications where applicable.
