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Broadview board approves $224,880 pilot contract for water-main lining and lead-service evaluation after debate over scope and budget
Summary
Trustees authorized a $224,880 contract for water-main lining (items 1–9) as a pilot to test a method to reduce lead-service-line replacement costs, while asking staff to return with firm unit counts and financing for additional items; vote carried 6–0.
The Broadview Village Board approved a contract to begin pilot water-main lining and to investigate replacing lead service lines on a block of 12th Avenue, authorizing the initial contract subtotal of $224,880 for items 1–9 and reserving further board approval for additional service-line units.
Public Works Director Matt Ames described the work as a pilot intended to reduce the village’s long-term cost to replace lead service lines. "If in fact it proves itself operationally ... it would reduce our cost by a third for replacing the lead service lines throughout the village," Ames said. The proposal includes water-main lining and a line-itemized set of service-line replacements (items 10 and 11), but staff did not have final unit counts for each home; Ames said 17 locations were already identified and three remained unknown pending field potholing.
Trustees pressed for clarity on total cost and budget authority. The mayor and the director discussed two options: approve the submitted subtotal for items 1–9 to begin work, or table the contract until full counts and financing could be confirmed. The mayor recommended approving $224,880 to get the work started and asked staff to return with finalized numbers and contingency figures at the next meeting.
Trustee questions included whether the village had competitively bid the work and how temporary water service would be provided to residents during construction. Ames said the vendor is the only in‑state provider of the specific lining service and that the village has the legal authority to bypass a typical bid when warranted; he also described a temporary above-ground water service plan and said the contractor proposes a 30‑day timeframe with progress payments.
Village attorney noted the contract rider included required language to align the agreement with Illinois prevailing-wage and other statutory requirements. After discussion the board voted by roll call to approve the contract as presented for the amount of $224,880, carried 6–0. Trustees instructed staff to return with a complete unit list and funding confirmation for any additional items prior to further expenditures.
