Urbana approves contracts and $600,000 transfer to repair North Main Street and municipal building concrete

Urbana City Council on first-floor votes authorized two construction contracts with D.L. Smith Concrete LLC and approved a $600,000 transfer from the city’s perpetual investment fund to the Neighborhood Curb, Gutter and Sidewalk Fund to cover imminent curb, gutter and sidewalk work.

The council authorized a contract of up to $184,656 for East Market Street concrete improvements. The successful bid was $167,869 with a 10 percent contingency of $16,787; the project covers the sidewalk and concrete areas in front of the municipal building from the handicap ramp at Main Street to the rear parking lot entrance.

Council also authorized a contract for North Main Street curb and gutter work in the amount of $927,256. That figure reflects a bid of $883,101 plus a 5 percent contingency of $44,155; the engineer’s estimate for the project was $942,600. The North Main scope runs from Washington Avenue and Glen Street up to Bellinger Road and covers spot replacements along the corridor.

Council separately approved Resolution 26-33-25 to transfer $600,000 from the perpetual investment fund into the Neighborhood Curb, Gutter and Sidewalk Fund. Finance staff told council the neighborhood fund began the year with $472,388, received $145,000 in first-half real estate assessments, and that after the transfer the fund balance would be about $887,000. The purchase order to D.L. Smith will charge approximately $786,919 to that fund; staff projected an ending balance near $295,000 for the year after anticipated second-half assessment receipts and partial invoice payments by affected property owners.

Council members were told the North Main contract approval by council would be contingent on passage of the corresponding ordinance (Ordinance 46-17-25) authorizing the improvement; that ordinance was considered on third reading during the same meeting. Staff said the contingency amounts are included to cover unforeseen site conditions and that D.L. Smith has previous experience working in Urbana.

Votes and procedure: the border-control committee had recommended both contracts; council voted to place the items on the floor and approved them by roll call. Council also suspended rules and approved Resolution 26-33-25 on the same night so staff could issue a purchase order and begin contracting work.

The council packet notes three bidders for the East Market job and two for the North Main job; staff said the North Main bids came in about $60,000 under the engineer’s estimate. The projects will be charged to the capital improvement fund and the police and fire capital improvement fund (for the municipal-building concrete work) and to the Neighborhood Curb, Gutter and Sidewalk Fund for the curb-and-gutter work.

Council did not specify a detailed timetable for construction start dates in the public record; staff indicated a PO would be issued next month and that work scheduling would follow.