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Oak Brook meter project returns with bids; council signals support to proceed with lowest qualified bidder
Summary
Public works presented five bids (about $264,000 to $471,000) to replace five master meters and install individual meters for 56 households in Oak Brook. Council members urged moving forward; staff will prepare contract award materials and clarify meter-cost and funding details.
Public Works presented the Oak Brook neighborhood water-meter project to council March 4 after earlier approvals set aside funding for the work. The project would replace five master meters serving 56 households with individual meters; the city previously allocated $90,000 toward the project through a neighborhood investment program.
Director of Public Works Ray Salores said staff solicited bids and received five proposals ranging from $264,000 to $471,000; those amounts include a $30,000 contingency for subsurface uncertainty. Salores said contractors were vetted and references checked. “We did receive 5 bids, when we bid it out, ranging from 264 to $471,000,” Salores said.
Council members said they wanted to resolve the long-running project. Councilman Neil said the city should either move forward or stop the effort, and Councilwoman Bennett supported choosing the low qualified bidder if vetting checks out. Councilman Jackson urged using the lowest responsible bidder so both the city and the homeowners pay less.
Council members also sought clarification about total city costs. Public works staff estimated approximately $100,000 in planning and construction-management equivalent services would have been required if the city had outsourced design and management; together with the $90,000 previously appropriated, Salores estimated the city’s committed in-kind and cash contribution was roughly $190,000 before construction. Staff said the city has water meters available and could potentially provide meters to the project to reduce homeowner costs; the council asked staff to confirm whether meter inventory could cover the project without an added charge.
No contract award was made at the study session. Council members supported proceeding to the formal award phase with the lowest qualified bidder after standard vetting and with standard performance-bond requirements. Staff said the next step would be to return with a contract award recommendation, a proposed construction schedule and clarification of how meter costs and the city’s $90,000 contribution would be applied.
The project remains contingent on final contract pricing, council award and coordination with the Oak Brook HOA on the scope and long-term maintenance of the water lines.
