TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Contract for the Forest Park Phase 4 Water Main Improvements Project to Len Cox & Sons Excavating in the Amount of $3,475,515.69
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BACKGROUND:
On January 5, 2021, the Mayor and City Council approved Resolution No. 7613, committing to water conservation through the reduction of non-revenue water in order to comply with the allocation requirements of the Level of Lake Michigan Act, 615 ILCS 50, and the corresponding State regulations. A condition of the City’s Lake Michigan water allocation permit is completion of the City’s Non-Revenue Water Reduction Plan. A major component of this Plan is water main replacement. The water main replacement program, estimated at approximately 3% per year, must be sufficient to achieve the reduction of non-revenue water from the City’s water system to not more than 10 percent by the year 2030.
The 2026 Water Main Replacement Program consists of 12 contracts to replace a total of approximately 20 miles of water main, at a cost of approximately $65,760,000.00. The Forest Park Phase 4 Water Main Improvements Project was identified to be completed as part of the 2026 program. This project consists of replacing approximately 9,700 linear feet of water main in various sizes on Charlesworth Ave (Woodruff Rd to 1032 Charlesworth Ave); Woodward Ave (Charlesworth Ave to dead end); Belle Ave (Ewing St to Draper Ave ); Fairview Ave (Woodruff Rd to Belle Ave); Draper Ave (Woodruff Rd to north of creek); Woodruff Rd (Fairview Ave to Arthur Ave); Williamson Ave (Magnolia Ave to Draper Ave), and Ewing St (Charlesworth Ave to Belle Ave). Also included in the scope of work for this project is replacement of any lead water service lines encountered. Attached to this memo is an exhibit showing the project location.
Design drawings and bidding documents were prepared and the invitation to bid for the project was advertised in the Joliet Herald-News on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., five (5) sealed bids were received for the Forest Park Phase 4 Water Main Improvements Project. The bid summary is as follows:
CONTRACTOR BID AMOUNT
Len Cox & Sons Excavating, Crest Hill, IL $3,475,515.69
Austin Tyler Construction, Inc., Elwood, IL $3,795,236.01
M&J Underground Inc., Monee, IL $3,798,675.45
P.T. Ferro Construction Co., Joliet, IL $4,001,790.94
Steve Spiess Construction Inc., Frankfort, IL $4,716,508.28
Engineer’s Estimate $4,710,000.00
The low bid from Len Cox & Sons Excavating, in the amount of $3,475,515.69, is 26.21% below the engineer’s estimate. Len Cox & Sons Excavating has previously completed similar work for the City and completed this work to the City’s satisfaction.
Funds will be charged to the Water Main Replacement Fund (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $3,348,247.59) and Lead Water Service Line Replacement Fund (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $127,268.10).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council award the Contract for the Forest Park Phase 4 Water Main Improvements Project, in the amount of $3,475,515.69, on behalf of Len Cox & Sons Excavating.
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