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Council approves $62,500 supplemental engineering for Willow Road culvert after soft‑soil findings
Summary
The Prospect Heights City Council approved resolution R2603 to add $62,500 in supplemental design engineering for Willow Road culvert work after Cook County’s geotechnical review identified soft soils; the council voted to proceed while staff seeks cost‑sharing with Cook County and MWRD.
The Prospect Heights City Council on Jan. 26 approved resolution R2603, authorizing a $62,500 supplemental design engineering agreement with Gwalt Hamilton Associates to address soft soils beneath a planned Willow Road culvert.
Mayor opened the discussion by explaining that Willow Road is a Cook County road running through the city and that the county and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) have asked for additional engineering because geotechnical borings found soft soil where culverts will be placed. "Cook County is requesting that we do a little bit more engineering design on it and put a structural foundation on there for the culverts," the Mayor said.
Dan Strahand, introduced as the city engineer, told the council that subconsultant GEI performed geotechnical modeling showing a soil‑placement consolidation approach could work for the roadway but that the county has specific concerns about the culvert foundation. "They're looking for a design that would drive timber piles into the ground, have a concrete cap on those timber piles, and that would support the culvert," Strahand said.
Council members were told the city had originally budgeted about $600,000 for its portion of the project, that MWRD is contributing roughly $1.8 million, and that Cook County is covering the remainder; staff cautioned the additional work could raise construction costs (staff estimated totals could move toward $900,000 to $1 million for the city portion under one scenario) and said the city would seek cost‑sharing or grant options before proceeding with construction.
Alderman Cameron moved to approve R2603 subject to attorney approval; Alderman Anderson seconded. Roll call votes were recorded and the motion passed.
Council indicated the supplemental engineering is intended to meet Cook County requirements and to reduce future settlement or culvert failure risk. Staff said city, county and MWRD representatives will meet in February to refine cost estimates and explore which party can increase its share of construction costs.
Votes at a glance - Approval of Jan. 12 meeting minutes and Jan. 12 executive session minutes — Moved: Alderman Anderson; Second: Alderman Cameron; Outcome: approved by roll call. - Reappointment of Tom Heiting to the police pension board — Moved: Alderman Anderson; Second: Alderman Cameron; Outcome: approved. - Resolution R2603 (Willow Road supplemental design engineering, $62,500) — Moved: Alderman Cameron; Second: Alderman Anderson; Outcome: approved by roll call. - Approval of warrants totaling $811,989 — Outcome: approved by roll call. - Adjournment motion — Outcome: approved.
The council's next step is a February meeting with Cook County and MWRD to assess updated design costs and possible cost‑sharing; staff also signaled an off‑ramp in the agreement if costs prove excessive.
