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Montgomery wins low bids on $19.9M IEPA water‑main program; trustees approve multiple contracts
Summary
Trustees accepted low bids and approved construction awards across four water‑main contracts tied to a $19.9 million Illinois Environmental Protection Agency loan to reduce non‑revenue water and prepare for Lake Michigan supply.
The Village of Montgomery reported lower‑than‑expected bids on four water‑main replacement contracts and voted to move forward with the projects as part of a $19.9 million IEPA funding package designed to reduce system losses and support the village’s transition to Lake Michigan water.
Staff said competitive bids left the village roughly $50,000 under the project loan total after accounting for previously approved design costs and anticipated construction engineering. Contracts cover separate project areas: Contract A (Montgomery Road and Sherman Avenue), Contract B (Boulder Hill Pass area), Contract C (Saugatuck Road area) and Contract D (Marnell Road area). The board also approved construction‑engineering professional services for the largest contracts.
Low bidders and award amounts reported by staff: - Contract A (Montgomery Road/Sherman): Zabo Contracting — $5,158,507 (approx. $1.0M under estimate). - Contract B (Boulder Hill Pass area): J & S Construction — low bidder (approx. $800K under estimate). - Contract C (Saugatuck Road area): Wininger — $4,364,416 (approx. $860K under estimate). - Contract D (Marnell Road area): J & S Construction — $3,809,662 (approx. $281K under estimate).
Director Wolf said contractors will be coordinated to minimize disruption, the village will stagger starts where possible, and two projects include interim completion milestones timed around school schedules. Contract A work near Sherman and the Montgomery Fest footprint is scheduled to begin after Montgomery Fest and extend into 2026. Two contracts include completion dates in late 2025.
Engineering staff said Zabo has completed satisfactory work on a separate, larger contract elsewhere in the region and that J & S and Wininger have prior positive experience in Montgomery. Staff also said the village has prepared by redirecting internal public‑works resources and buying an additional locating machine to manage shutdowns, sampling and emergency locates during construction.
Trustees approved each contract and the related construction engineering professional services agreements by recorded votes. Staff cautioned the awards are contingent on IEPA loan closing and funding allocation; IEPA award ratification and loan closing remain a condition before construction begins.
The board also approved the rehabilitation professional services agreement for Well 13, a shallow production well serving the village’s lime softening plant; staff said this will likely be the last planned rehab before the village completes work to move to Lake Michigan supply.
Trustees asked staff to continue coordination with the highway commissioner, regional sewer authorities and school officials to manage staging and interim completions near schools and busy corridors. Project start dates will be set after IEPA closing and further preconstruction coordination.
