Freeport council ratifies emergency work at Well 11 and approves ComEd service upgrade tied to $31M water project

The Freeport City Council on Feb. 24 ratified emergency electrical work at Well 11 and approved a ComEd service agreement to support a new water facility that city staff said is backed by $31 million in outside funding.

Manager Boyer told the council that the booster station at Well 11 was installed after rising radium readings required a polymer treatment system, and that chemical feed lines were precipitating, which made a carrier water/booster and electrical connection necessary. "We brought it for council to ratify the electrical work to connect the booster station and effectively connect the polymer system to the treatment process," Boyer said. Staff solicited three quotes and Nelson Carlson was the lowest responsive bidder at $17,013; the council adopted the ratification 5–1.

On a related item, Boyer described a separate but linked need to upgrade electrical service for Well and Well House Number 12 to bring in large three-phase power for a planned treatment plant. "The city is moving forward with a $31,000,000 water treatment plant," Boyer said, adding that the funding comes from the EPA and an emerging contaminants fund. He told the council the ComEd upgrade invoice the city must pay now is $41,743.06 so work on the new facility can proceed; council approved the ComEd agreement 6–0.

Councilmembers pressed staff on cost exposure and schedule. Alderman Stacy asked, "I understand $31,000,000 is being given by EPA. What is it costing the city?" Boyer replied, "Nothing," and staff reiterated that the quoted ComEd electrical expense was budgeted as part of the overall project preparation. Public works staff said the project has been in planning for about two years, that bids and permits are complete, and that test wells and samples supported moving forward; staff expects to break ground next week and estimated construction at two to two-and-a-half years.

Manager Boyer and public works staff also clarified that the Well 11 electrical work being ratified addressed operational issues at an existing treatment installation, while the ComEd agreement is a separate utility-cost item for the new Well 12 facility on Forest Road. The council's approvals allow both the immediate ratification and the preparatory work for the larger, funded treatment project to continue.

The city did not announce additional local cost obligations beyond the ComEd invoice; staff said the larger treatment plant is supported by the outside funding struck with EPA and the emerging-contaminants program. The council moved into executive session later in the meeting for collective negotiating matters and salary schedule deliberations.