Lake Bluff approves concrete, street work and engineering contracts for 2025–26 projects

The Lake Bluff Board of Trustees approved three separate contracts tied to sidewalk, curb and street work Monday, authorizing construction and engineering agreements for the village’s 2025–26 programs.

The board authorized a contract extension with Schroeder and Schroeder, Inc., of Skokie, Illinois, for the village’s fiscal‑year 2025 miscellaneous concrete replacement project and waived competitive bidding. Schroeder offered a proposed 3.5% unit‑price increase from the 2024 extension; the board approved a contract in the amount of $35,000.

For the village’s fiscal‑year 2026 street improvement program, the board awarded construction work through a joint procurement with the City of Lake Forest to Peter Baker and Sons of Lake Bluff. The lowest bid produced an amount attributable to Lake Bluff of $509,670.85; the village engineer recommended awarding the overall construction agreement at $1,179,000.85. Trustees voted to approve the construction agreement by roll call.

The board also approved a construction engineering services agreement with Gewalt Hamilton Associates of Vernon Hills for observation, project administration and materials testing for the fiscal‑year 2026 street improvement work. The agreement is payable on an hourly basis with a cost not to exceed $49,909 without additional written authorization.

Staff said the village previously participated in a Municipal Partnering Initiative (MPI) with nearby municipalities to jointly bid municipal concrete and that prior stand‑alone bids had been more expensive; the Schroeder extension followed that history. Trustees noted the Peter Baker bid came in below recent estimates.

All three contracts were recommended by the village engineer and approved by roll call; the motions carried.