Clarendon Hills will spend approximately $47,000 to have about 200 cracked and unlevel sidewalk squares replaced before Thanksgiving for its annual sidewalk maintenance program.
The village board approved a low bid Monday of $46,797.50 from David Concrete Construction Company of Monee. Four other bids ranged from $56,135 to $69,222. The village had designated $60,000 for the work out of its 2020 Motor Fuel Tax Fund budget.
The sidewalk maintenance program runs on a five-year cycle, with about 20% of the village targeted each year for work.
Public Works Department personnel surveyed this year’s targeted area _ the far west side of the village _ to determine what sections of sidewalk needed to be removed and replaced. Sidewalk sections in most areas of the village are 4 1/2 feet wide and 5 feet long
“We walk it and put a list together,” said Brendan McLaughlin, the village’s public works director. “It’s really about safety. We don’t want anyone tripping and falling.”
While safety is the No. 1 priority, sidewalks segments also may be replaced for holding water for an extended period of time or being severely deteriorated.
McLaughlin said the sidewalk maintenance program sometimes includes the addition of new sections in areas that don’t have sidewalks; however, no new sections are designated for this year’s work.
Along with a contract for the sidewalk maintenance program, the village board also approved the expenditure of $5,600 with National Power Rodding for cleaning and televising of storm sewers. McLaughlin said televising allows a look for weak points or clogs in older pipes. The village had budgeted $6,700 from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund for this work.
More Top Picks What Are Colored Overlays And How Do They Help Reading
The bid from National Power Rodding was substantially less than two other bids received, of $20,800 and $23,245. McLaughlin said he was not surprised with the discrepancy in bids because National Power Rodding specializes in the work being done, while that is not the case with the other two companies that submitted bids.