Beach Park OKs sidewalk contract, a $600K Vactor truck and a traffic‑calming pilot on Beach Road

The Village of Beach Park board on March 26 approved several public‑works measures including a sidewalk replacement contract, a major equipment purchase, and a traffic‑calming pilot on Beach Road.

Trustee Miller described the sidewalk program and recommended awarding the contract to Whitney Moran Construction for $21,200, noting the work supports the village's ongoing sidewalk maintenance program and will be paid from the general fund: “Impact to our budget is $21,200 which comes out of our general fund,” Miller said. The board unanimously approved the contract.

The board also approved the purchase of a 2025 Freightliner Vactor truck from Standard Equipment in an amount not to exceed $599,967.64, with the existing 2007 unit taken as a trade; funds will come from the water and sewer capital fund. Trustee Miller described the vehicle's uses — storm and sanitary sewer maintenance, fire hydrant and water main repairs — and trustees voted to authorize the purchase.

Finally, the board authorized staff to install three temporary speed bumps on Beach Road (west of Green Bay Road, near the Waukegan Park District sports complex), remove them for winter operations and conduct a before‑and‑after traffic study. The pilot includes signage requirements and a staff‑recommended traffic study to measure speed reduction and diversion effects; the study cost was described as approximately $10,000 and would come from the general fund. Mayor characterized the measure as limited and targeted: “I view this as a pilot program. This is not intended to be a village wide policy,” he said.

All three items passed by roll call votes. Trustees said the Vactor purchase addresses a long‑deferred equipment replacement and the traffic project responds to neighborhood safety concerns tied to tournament traffic near park facilities.