Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Waukegan council approves multiple public-works contracts including alley, culvert and pump projects
Summary
Council and committees approved a slate of public-works procurements July 21: awards for an alley program, parking-lot resurfacing, lift-station generator, emergency sewer repairs, culvert rehabilitations (MFT), lead service-line replacement, and design-build services for a high-service pump VFD upgrade were all approved.
Waukegan aldermen and committee members on July 21 approved multiple public-works and water system contracts and emergency authorizations intended to maintain infrastructure and prepare for seasonal needs.
Major items approved included:
- Alley program (FY26): Award to Chicagoland Paving Contractors Inc., not to exceed $718,995.26; committee vote carried.
- Parking-lot resurfacing (FY26): Award to Superior Paving Inc. not to exceed $340,700 for several municipal lots, including those near the train station and Genesee/Main.
- Lift Station No. 2 generator: Purchase from Rush Power Systems, LLC for a not-to-exceed amount of $74,989. Staff described a roughly 30-week lead time and said the existing generator is in very poor condition; a good-faith waiver under procurement rules was cited to proceed.
- Emergency sewer repairs: Preapproval for expenditures up to $300,000 to Campanella & Sons under a good-faith waiver so the city can respond quickly to urgent sewer issues.
- MFT-funded culvert rehabilitation (2025): Using motor-fuel-tax funds to pay construction costs for culvert rehabilitation at Jackson, Sheridan and County; contract awarded to Campanella & Sons for $3,803,680.20, subject to IDOT approval.
- Lead service-line replacement (DCEO Lewis Avenue project): Award to Joel Kennedy Construction Corp., not to exceed $1,264,333, covering replacement as part of state-backed lead-service remediation.
- Design-build services for pump improvements: Approve Baxter & Woodman and Bowler Construction for VFD (variable frequency drive) improvements to high-service pump No. 5 at a not-to-exceed amount of $794,000; scope covers design, purchase and installation to reduce single-point failure risk.
- Joint-purchase materials and equipment: Awards for sand, gravel and topsoil; purchase of a track loader and a trailer via cooperative purchasing were approved with not-to-exceed amounts in the mid five figures.
Committee comments and context: Staff said many purchases used joint-purchasing or state-authorized vendors and cited equipment lead times (notably 30 weeks for the lift-station generator). The lift-station and pump work were described as necessary to maintain water service reliability; the MFT culvert work must be submitted to the Illinois DOT for approval.
Votes: Each procurement item was approved by roll call in the committees where they were considered. For the larger MFT culvert contract, staff noted the project had been budgeted and IDOT approval will be sought as required.
Next steps: Contractors will be issued purchase orders or notices to proceed; staff will coordinate required state submittals for MFT projects and report on generator delivery timelines and pump-installation schedules.
