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Freeport Council clears financing and contractor awards for Well 12 water project
Summary
The City of Freeport approved a debt ordinance, multiple construction bids and a construction‑engineering contract to build Well 12 and associated treatment and pipeline work; council votes were mostly 6–2 or 6–1 on related items.
The Freeport City Council voted this week to authorize financing and award contracts to build Well 12 — a deep production well, treatment facility and water/sewer connections meant to serve the city’s Low Zone.
City Manager Darren Boyer told the council the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency-required debt ordinance is needed to complete the four-phase project and to secure IEPA State Revolving Fund assistance and other outside funding. “Staff recommends council, pass the debt ordinance so the city can issue the loan,” Boyer said.
The debt ordinance authorizes up to $32 million in debt; staff said the project cost currently is estimated at about $20 million and the larger authorization creates a construction contingency buffer. Council approved the debt ordinance 6–2.
Why it matters: Well 12 is intended to replace aging water infrastructure and remove the city’s reliance on a treatment plant that must be closed for PFAS contamination. City officials said the Low Zone supplies about 65% of Freeport customers, and the IEPA funding package being pursued includes approximately $13.2 million in forgivable or subsidized awards and other outside grant support.
Details and contractor awards: The project was bid in four contracts. Bids the council approved include: - Contract A (test well): Peerless Well & Pump, $831,960 — approved by council. - Contract A1 (production well): Peerless Well & Pump, $2,441,650 — approved by council. - Contract B (well house/site work): IHC Construction, lowest responsive bidder at $21,966,000 — approved by council. - Contract C (water and sewer mains): Kelsey Excavating, $1,729,906 — approved by council.
Boyer and staff said the total for the well and well house work, together with associated infrastructure, is roughly $26.97 million; staff described available IEPA and federal funding streams that reduce the city’s out‑of‑pocket share. On the bids, Boyer noted prior performance by the recommended firms: IHC had worked on the wastewater treatment plant and Kelsey had completed recent sewer work.
Construction engineering and oversight: Council also approved a construction‑engineering contract with the firm (F R A G R A/Grama as presented by staff) for resident inspection, materials testing and project administration at a not‑to‑exceed amount of $1,750,000. Boyer said close oversight had saved the city money on earlier projects and recommended approval; the resolution passed 6–1.
Public finance and next steps: Council votes on the bids and debt ordinance allow staff to forward documentation to the IEPA for concurrence and to move into contract execution. Staff said construction is expected to take as long as 30 months once work begins. The city will continue to pursue the IEPA State Revolving Fund loan package, federal funding for emerging contaminants, and congressionally directed spending noted by staff.
What remains unsettled: A few council members voted no on some measures citing fiscal caution; members also pressed staff for additional clarity about funding sources and contingency handling during discussion. Staff responded with line‑item figures and said detailed contract documents will be returned with specifications at later procedural steps.
Provenance: Transcript excerpts of the ordinance reading, staff presentation, bid openings and roll‑call votes (Ordinance 20‑25‑35; bids and resolutions for Well 12; construction engineering resolution) were used to compile this article.
