Waukegan committee approves multiple water-main awards, engineering contracts and change orders totaling millions

The Waukegan Public Works and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved a slate of contracts and change orders on items related to the city’s water system during a special meeting where members voted on multiple awards and professional-services agreements.

The committee approved awarding the North Avenue/Glen Flora water-main replacement bid to Campanella and Sons for a not-to-exceed amount listed in the meeting materials as $3,848,261.60. Committee members were told the bid opening occurred Sept. 18, 2025, with seven bidders; Campanella was reported as the lowest qualified bidder. A roll-call vote recorded Chair Turner, Vice Chair Guzman, Alderman Downworth, Alderman Hayes and Alderman Newsom voting “Aye.”

A staff member described the scope of the North Avenue/Glen Flora project as roughly 5,400 feet of 12-inch main, including hydrants and valves, some storm-sewer work and up to 80 private lead service-line replacements; staff said homeowner-side lead replacements will be determined when crews reach individual properties. “So it’s 5,400 feet of 12-inch water main, and this also includes hydrants, valves, also, some storm sewer and 80 private lead water service lines,” the staff member said.

The committee also approved award of the 10th Street water-main replacement to Campanella and Sons for a not-to-exceed amount of $2,418,322.65. The motion to award the 10th Street contract was made and seconded on the floor and passed by unanimous roll call.

Related professional-services contracts cleared by the committee included construction engineering and surface services for the 10th Street project with Baxter & Woodman for a not-to-exceed $194,200, and construction engineering services for the North Avenue/Glen Flora project from Baxter & Woodman for a not-to-exceed $245,800. The committee also approved design engineering services from Guelwalt Hamilton Associates for the city’s fiscal-year 2027 road program in an amount noted in the packet (approximately $136,872; one spot in the transcript lists a slightly different figure). A committee member asked which roads would be included; staff directed members to the packet list.

Members also approved Change Order No. 1 with Boller Construction in an amount not to exceed $990,600 after staff explained the water-plant requires electrical upgrades before planned switchgear and SCADA upgrades. Staff said that adjustment brings the project’s new total to $3,943,400 when combined with previously approved amounts. The change order was described as covering additional electrical work and associated construction engineering; the committee approved the request by unanimous vote.

All of these motions passed on unanimous roll calls. The committee did not identify any dissent on the record and did not delay any of the items for further study.

What’s next: contracts will proceed to the mayor and city staff for execution as authorized. Staff indicated lead-service-line replacements on the North Avenue/Glen Flora job will be confirmed on a house-by-house basis once crews reach the locations.