Council authorizes bids for Liberty Avenue waterline after business owner warns easement work will disrupt access

The Vermilion City Council voted on Dec. 15 to authorize solicitation of bids for the Liberty Avenue Waterline Replacement Project Phase 4, moving the project back to procurement after an earlier round produced non-awardable bids.

Council discussion noted the work will run under the river at a portion of Liberty Avenue, that easements remain under finalization, and that the city received a grant contribution of $325,000 toward the project. Council members said the bid process will seek more competitive responses and that staff is working through outstanding right-of-way and easement issues before construction.

A local business owner who signed in for public comment told council the planned easement work would “dig up our property … tear out the majority of the sidewalk, tear across the entrance way right from our sign” and could block access to the business. The owner asked that the city restore the property to its current condition after work and requested replacement or payment for two water-service connections that will be shut off during the line change.

Council moved and seconded the solicitation motion and carried it on a roll-call vote with a majority in favor; Council President John Gabriel recorded an abstention. The council did not set a construction schedule at the meeting; staff said easement agreements and revised bid results will be reported back as they become available.

Next steps: staff will finalize easements and issue the bid package for Phase 4; the council will receive updated cost and schedule estimates when bids close.