A troublesome 700-foot-long water main under Bondurant Street just west of Washington Community High School will be replaced this summer.
The Washington City Council this week approved a low bid of about $270,000 for the project from Peoria-based PIPCO. That's about $130,000 less than the engineer's estimate of about $400,000.
"This is great news for both the school and residents who live on that street," said WCHS Superintendent Kyle Freeman. "I can think of about a half-dozen times in my 12 years at the school where we've had to deal with a boil order or shut the school because of a water main break on Bondurant."
Assistant Superintendent Karen Beverlin also gave a thumb's up to the project.
"We're definitely happy it's getting fixed," she said.
Alderperson Brandon Moss said his family has been impacted by the breaks.
"I've had students at the high school for the last five years, and they've missed a number — not a ton, but a measurable number of days due to water main breaks and boil orders and such."
Six bidders competed for the project, which pleased City Engineer Dennis Carr.
"We've never had six bidders for a water main project," he said. "I'm happy the work is going to a local firm. And we've been satisfied with PIPCO's work in the past."
Twin Lakes Civil Construction, the second-lowest bidder at slightly less than $272,200, is from Urbana. The highest bidder was Walker Excavating of Peoria at about $328,400.
Asked about the wide disparity of bids, Carr smiled and said, "I'm happy we didn't budget for the low bidder."
Let's Talk Washington
Mayor Lilija Stevens' first monthly "Let's Talk Washington" informal discussion session after she was sworn in last May was held in the meeting room at the Washington District Library.
Her next session is from 11 a.m. to noon May 16 in the library meeting room. City Administrator Jeff Fiegenschuh, Police Chief Jeff Stevens and Alderperson Mike McIntyre will join her.
"Myself and this council have been in place for a year now and the sky hasn't fallen in," Stevens joked at this week's council meeting. "I'll be presenting a year in review at an upcoming meeting."
Other business
Among highlights of the department heads' reports, a building permit has been issued for Washington Senior Living on Newcastle Road, which recently suffered significant damage because of a water main break.
Additionally, the new Get Yourself Motivated [GYM] building on Cummings Lane will include Rush Bowls, a new business in Illinois that sells acai and smoothies in a drive-thru.
And the annual "Cop on a Rooftop" fundraiser for Special Olympics will be held from 5 a.m. to noon May 15 at the Dunkin' at 80 Cherry Tree Shopping Center in Washington.
Also this week, the council took the following actions:
- • Approved paying Terra Engineering of Peoria up to $37,500 to study several intersections to see how they can be made safer. City staff has received multiple complaints about those areas. The intersections in question are Cummings Road/Kingsbury Road; Cummings/Cherry Lane Shopping Center/Culver's; and Freedom Parkway/Menards/Walmart.
- Approved paying Austin Engineering of Peoria up to $36,500 for engineering work on a planned park and storm sewer truckline at Washington Plaza.
- Approved paying Tyler Technologies of Texas nearly $69,000 for accounting software maintenance and fees.
- Approved paying more than $517,000 for two Western Star chassis and two Koenig Body builds for plow trucks from Truck Centers of Morton and Koenig Body and Equipment of Peoria, respectively.
- Approved purchasing an asphalt roller from low bidder Altorfer CAT of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for up to $80,000.
- Approved purchasing a crack sealing machine for up to $70,000 from Milwaukee-based Sherwin Industries.
- Approved disposing of surplus property at City Hall by selling it to an auction company. Some surplus items will be donated.
- Appointed Christopher Blackwell to the Washington Fire Department Board and City Clerk Valeri Brod as the city collector, while Jean Montgomery was reappointed to the Glendale Cemetery Board of Managers. A vacancy remains on the Economic Development Commission following the departure of Lisa Uphoff. Prospective applicants can find information on the city's website.
