Village of Jackson committee recommends multiple construction pay requests, awards dog-park bid and forwards 2024 audit

The Village of Jackson Budget and Finance Committee on Aug. 12, 2025 recommended that the Village Board approve multiple construction change orders and pay requests, awarded a $217,614.10 bid for a dog park at Cedar Run Park and recommended acceptance of the village's 2024 audited financial statements.

The recommendations came during a regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting at Village Hall. Committee members handled routine consent items including minutes and treasurer reports before addressing project change orders, pay requests and contracts from the Board of Public Works and Park and Recreation staff.

Why it matters: The motions advance street, wastewater and community-center work already under contract and move the Cedar Run dog park project toward construction. The committee's actions free payments to contractors and forward the 2024 audit and an insurance renewal to the Village Board for final approval.

Most items were routine approvals. The committee recommended approval of change order number 2 for the 2025 Ridgeway Drive and Chestnut Court reconstruction project, an increase of $13,450, and recommended approval of change order number 1 for the 2025 Oaks of Jackson surface course, Spruce Street and Ridgeway Drive for Stark Paving Corporation, an increase of $14,340. The committee also recommended approval of pay request number 3 for the Ridgeway Drive/Chestnut Court project in the amount of $447,187.01 and pay request number 1 for the 2025 Hickory Lane reconstruction project to Vinton Construction in the amount of $356,256.41.

The committee recommended approval of pay request number 17 for the 2024 wastewater treatment plant tertiary filters and disinfectant project for JH Hessinger in the amount of $86,277.10, and a reimbursement request (number 14) for the same project to be billed to the Clean Water Fund loan in the amount of $110,837.84.

On the Jackson Community Center expansion, the committee recommended approval of change order number 6 for Moore Construction, a decrease of $31,446, and recommended approval of pay request number 14 in the amount of $44,940.70. Village staff said the community-center project should be completed by the end of the month and that remaining charges were largely retainage. "The project should be completed by end of month," said Tyler, a village staff member.

Park and recreation items included review and award of the low bid for the dog park at Cedar Run Park to Low Underground Incorporated for $217,614.10. Committee members discussed the site's location in a flood plain and the risk that recent flooding could damage fencing or paths. A village staff member said the contractor bid with the site conditions in mind and understood the wetland-related challenges. One committee member recorded a dissenting vote on the bid; the motion carried.

The committee also recommended approval of a contract amendment (number 1) for the Cedar Run dog-park construction administration (MSA) in the amount of $15,550 to provide on-site engineering oversight during construction.

Audited financial statements: A representative of Lucida LLC presented the village's 2024 audited financial statements, which were released Aug. 6 and provided to committee members. The Lucida LLC representative said, "The village received an unmodified opinion, which means it's a clean opinion on the financial statements." The auditor reported that most funds increased year over year, citing a significant increase in the capital projects fund driven by unspent 2024 debt proceeds carrying into 2025. Tax incremental districts (TID 6 and TID 7) and the hotel-motel tax fund showed decreases in fund balance. The auditor noted the general fund remained near budgeted levels; conservation and development expenditures were over budget by $971 and capital outlay by $683,241.

Insurance and other business: The committee recommended continuation of the village's self-insured retention coverage with Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company under the staff-recommended option. The committee also approved routine items including the minutes of the July 8, 2025 meeting, the June 25 and July 2025 check register and treasurer's reports.

Votes at a glance (committee recommendations to forward to the Village Board or to approve): - Approval of minutes (07/08/2025): motion carried (mover: Olsen; seconder: Wells). - Approval of check register and treasurer's reports (June 25, 2025 & July 2025): motion carried (mover: Wells; seconder: Olsen). - Change order #2, 2025 Ridgeway Drive/Chestnut Court reconstruction (+$13,450): recommended (mover: not specified; seconder: not specified). - Change order #1, 2025 Oaks of Jackson surface course, Spruce St., Ridgeway Dr. (Stark Paving) (+$14,340): recommended (mover: Olson; seconder: Wells). - Pay request #3, Ridgeway Drive/Chestnut Court (Advance Construction) $447,187.01: recommended (mover: Wells; seconder: Heckendorf). - Pay request #1, 2025 Hickory Lane (Vinton Construction) $356,256.41: recommended (mover: Olson; seconder: Wells). - Pay request #17, 2024 Wastewater Treatment Plant tertiary filters and disinfectant (JH Hessinger) $86,277.10: recommended (mover: Wells; seconder: Heckendorf). - Reimbursement request #14, 2024 wastewater project (Clean Water Fund loan) $110,837.84: recommended (mover: Heckendorf; seconder: Wells). - Change order #6, Jackson Community Center expansion (Moore Construction) (-$31,446): recommended (mover: Wells; seconder: Olson). - Pay request #14, Jackson Community Center expansion (Moore Construction) $44,940.70: recommended (mover: Olson; seconder: Wells). - Bid award, dog park at Cedar Run Park (Low Underground Incorporated) $217,614.10: recommended (mover: Wells; seconder: Heckendorf). Motion carried; one member recorded a dissenting vote due to flood-plain concerns. - Contract amendment #1, Cedar Run dog park (MSA) $15,550 for construction-phase engineering oversight: recommended (mover: Wells; seconder: Heckendorf). - 2024 audited financial statements (Lucida LLC): recommended to Village Board for approval (mover: not specified; seconder: not specified). - Renewal of self-insured retention coverage (Cities and Villages Mutual Insurance Company), option 1: recommended (mover: Wells; seconder: Olsen). - Adjourn: motion carried.

What committee members said: Committee member Olson and committee member Olsen each made or seconded multiple motions during the meeting; Committee member Wells seconded or moved several items; Committee member Heckendorf also participated in motions. Clerk Hsu checked the sign-in sheet for public comments. Several members asked staff questions about the dog-park site conditions and the community-center completion schedule.

Next steps: Items recommended by the Budget and Finance Committee will go to the Village Board for final action; the dog-park contract award and the insurance renewal will be considered at that meeting.