Lincoln Park council approves engineering and construction awards for multi‑million‑dollar water projects

The Lincoln Park City Council authorized a package of engineering contracts and construction awards on projects intended to replace lead water service lines, repair retention basins and rehabilitate sanitary sewer pipes, actions city staff said are largely funded by federal ARPA and state drinking‑water grant programs.

City staff presented multiple proposals and low bids at the Dec. meeting, and the council approved each by roll call. City materials and presenters said the projects together involve design, bidding, construction administration and equipment purchases for the water system and will be funded primarily through earmarked ARPA dollars and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) grant allocations.

Why it matters: city officials framed the package as a coordinated effort to reduce public‑health risk from lead plumbing and to upgrade aging pumping and sewer infrastructure. Several items will replace lead service lines, a priority tied both to resident safety and to state and federal compliance deadlines.

City engineer and Hennessey Engineers representative John presented the proposals and corrected an early figure for one line item: “I just wanna correct the amount. It’s $242,150,” he said when staff clarified the design fee for the earmarked lead service replacement program.

The largest construction award approved was for Brico Excavating LLC, a low bidder on the 2024 ARPA lead water service replacement project. Staff said that…