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Cook County approves highway equipment and material contracts: loader replacement, calcium chloride and gravel crushing
Summary
The county approved purchases and contract awards for the Highway Department: a compact track loader replacement, a $99,875 calcium chloride application contract with EnviroTech Services LLC and a gravel crushing contract for 18,000 cubic yards to Luzdick and Sons for $144,000.
The Cook County Board on April 22 approved several Highway Department items: replacement of a compact track loader, award of the annual liquid calcium chloride dust‑control contract and a gravel‑crushing contract to produce aggregate for county roads.
The board approved a motion to purchase a replacement compact track loader budgeted at $114,000; the low quote came in at about $111,000 and the purchase was authorized under the county replacement schedule. Commissioners said the purchase follows the department’s 15‑year replacement cycle.
For dust control and aggregate stabilization, the board awarded a contract to EnviroTech Services LLC for liquid calcium chloride application: the contract covers application of 25,000 gallons on county roads for a total bid of $99,875. Highway staff told commissioners the county follows a calcium‑chloride policy that prioritizes roads by traffic count and geometry and that application is done by tanker with operator to control rate and width; the county does not own equipment to apply calcium chloride so contracting is the standard approach. Two commissioners registered opposition during the vote as recorded in the meeting.
The board also approved a contract to Luzdick and Sons for crushing 18,000 cubic yards of Class 1 aggregate for $144,000, under budget from the $150,000 appropriation. Highway staff identified the pits to be used this year and told the board the award will allow maintenance work and stockpiling of crushed aggregate ahead of summer road operations.
Notes on procurement and practice Highway staff described calcium chloride as both a dust suppressant and a stabilization agent that helps hold gravel roads together under increasing traffic. Staff noted that the county lacks specialized application equipment and that contracting the service remains cheaper than buying application gear. For crushing, staff said lower than anticipated bids likely reflect materials already in pipeline and that securing contracts before tariffs affect prices was an advantage.
Ending The board’s approvals move routine highway maintenance programs forward for the season and secure key materials and equipment while most awards came in at or below budgeted figures.
