Public Works and Public Safety were front and center August 22 as the La Grange Park Village Board unanimously approved expenditures for sidewalk and pavement patching, debris hauling and tree trimming, and two new police vehicles.
“I’m not usually a fan of waiving competitive bidding,” Public Works Committee Chair Mike Sheehan said before recommending approval of a $205,000 contract to Nardulli Construction for work on sidewalks and pavement.
But he also noted the bid was a good price and the company had performed satisfactory work for the Village in the past.
The work involves improvements to the 500 and 600 blocks of Spring, Waiola, Stone, and Oak avenues between Kensington Alley and Brainard Avenues, and Beach Avenue, from 31st Street to Oak Avenue.
The work will be financed through the Motor Fuel Tax and Water Fund, $75,000, and $100,000 respectively, and also include $30,000 for concrete restorations. The work will be performed in late September and early October of this year.
The Board also approved a contract, not to exceed $120,000, with Lindahl Brothers to haul and dispose of excavation waste from the Village dumpsite.
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A contract with A & B Tree, Inc. to perform parkway dead tree and stump removal was approved as well.
In addition to being the lowest responsible bidder, A & B has been performing the work for the Village the last several years and has held its price constant since fiscal year 2015/2016.
The work will be financed by the Public Works through the tree maintenance fund, $10,000. Another $24,500 for tree removals will come from the motor fuel tax fund.
The Board approved the Public Safety Committee’s request to purchase two new Ford Interceptor SUVs for the Police Department.
The vehicles will replace a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria.
The village originally budgeted $95,000 in the Capital Project Fund, but staff recommended raising the budgeted amount to $120,000 because at the time of the vehicles and equipment was unknown.
The total cost will be $83,032 for the two vehicles, with an additional $35,338 for special equipment, bringing the total price to $118,370.
In other business, the board appointed several residents to the Village Youth Commission, including James Furlong, Devin Zander, and Evie Franz to terms expiring Sept. 1, 2024.
Harry Keenan was appointed to a term expiring Sept. 1, 2025, and Katie Beyer, Luca Depa and Riley Mulhall were reappointed to terms ending Sept. 1, 2025.
The next Village Board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. September 12, at the Village Board Room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.