The La Grange Park Village Board unanimously approved a new contract for Public Works employees Aug. 26 during a meeting when it also approved nine Public Works projects.
The contract with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 350 runs through April 20, 2028 and calls for a 3% increase in wages for the first year and additional increases of 2% to 3% in following years, depending on the increases to employee health/dental premiums.
Public Works Director Rick Radde said village officials and staff have a good relationship with the union.
“We had great negotiations, there was no arguing or fighting or any of that,” he said. “It was amiable.”
The reason the second and third year of the salaries don’t have a set increase is because the village picks up the entire tab for the health/dental premium for public works employees. But IUOE Local 150 determines what that premium actually is, so to protect the village against prohibitive raises in health/dental premiums, the contract included sliding rates of pay increase.
Salaries for the eight people working under the contract run from $50,306 to $91,135, depending on qualifications and years of experience. Radde and the Public Works foreman are not covered under the contract.
Of the nine public service projects approved, the most significant was for water main replacements on Kings Court and Castle Circle.
The board authorized $1,008,617 for Geradi Water and Sewer Company to perform the replacements, to be paid for from the village’s water fund.
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“With our aging infrastructure the main replacements along Kings Court and Castle Circle, along with the sewer point repairs lining and televising will demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a safe, dependable and reliable water delivery and sewer system,” Public Works committee chair Mike Sheehan said after the vote.
The Board also authorized $145,977 to Suburban General Construction to perform this year’s Sewer Point Repair Project.
As is the case with the water main improvements, Suburban General represented what village staff judged to be the lowest responsible bidder, officials said.
Hoerr Construction was awarded a $97,825 contract to perform the village’s sewer lining project; Visi-Sewer of Illinois was awarded a $55,896 contract to perform the village’s sewer cleaning and televising services; the board authorized $59,222 for a 2025 Chevy Tahoe from Karl Automotive of Ankeny, Iowa; water leak detection services will be performed by Associated Technical Services for an amount not to exceed $24,000; water valve maintenance services will be performed by On The Mark for an amount not to exceed $35,000; and water meter vault repair will be done by Engineered Solutions Midwest for an amount not to exceed $23,000.
The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9 in the Village Board Room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.