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Highland City Council approves storage building bid, IDOT engineering agreement and police vehicle purchase
Summary
On Feb. 2 the Highland City Council voted unanimously to award a $94,500 contract for a utility storage building, approve a joint funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for preliminary engineering on South Poplar, and waive bidding to buy a 2026 Dodge Durango for $40,827.
The Highland City Council on Feb. 2 approved three routine actions, all by unanimous roll-call votes: awarding a construction contract for a utility storage building, authorizing a joint funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for preliminary engineering, and waiving competitive bidding to purchase a new police vehicle.
Councilwoman Barbara Bellm moved to award Bid #E-18-25 to Bi-State Construction Services, Inc. for $94,500 to construct a utility storage building, saying the city is "running out of room for equipment." Councilman Napper seconded, and Councilmembers Klaus, Sloan, Bellm and Napper voted aye; none voted nay.
The council also approved Bill #26-11/Resolution #26-02-3250 to authorize execution of a joint funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for preliminary engineering on South Poplar. City Manager Conrad said the authorization uses grant funds received for the engineering work. Councilwoman Sloan made the motion, Councilman Klaus seconded, and the measure passed on a 4–0 roll-call vote.
Finally, the council approved Bill #26-12/Resolution #26-02-3251 waiving competitive bidding to purchase a 2026 Dodge Durango through the State of Illinois joint purchasing program from McGinley Incorporated for $40,827. Director Widman reported the Durango was about $5,000 cheaper than an Explorer and roughly $18,000 less than a Tahoe. The council voted 4–0 to approve the purchase; the vehicle being removed from service will either become the St. Paul's School resource officer car or be reassigned to Code Enforcement.
Votes at a glance
- Award Bid #E-18-25 (utility storage building) — Awarded to Bi-State Construction Services, Inc.; amount: $94,500. Motion: Councilwoman Barbara Bellm. Second: Councilman Napper. Vote: Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, Napper — aye; outcome: approved.
- Bill #26-11 / Resolution #26-02-3250 (IDOT joint funding agreement for preliminary engineering on South Poplar) — Motion: Councilwoman Sloan. Second: Councilman Klaus. Vote: Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, Napper — aye; outcome: approved.
- Bill #26-12 / Resolution #26-02-3251 (waive bidding; purchase order to McGinley Incorporated for 2026 Dodge Durango) — Amount: $40,827. Motion: Councilwoman Barbara Bellm. Second: Councilman Napper. Vote: Klaus, Sloan, Bellm, Napper — aye; outcome: approved.
Next steps and context
City staff said the storage building will address space constraints for equipment and may extend equipment longevity. The IDOT agreement moves preliminary engineering forward for South Poplar, funded by grant dollars; Oates Associates is scheduled to present the Master Trail Plan to the council at its Feb. 16 meeting. The new Durango will replace an existing unit; staff indicated the decommissioned vehicle could be repurposed for the school resource officer at St. Paul's School or reassigned to Code Enforcement.
