SV approves $4.2 million in water bids

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SPRING VALLEY – The Spring Valley City Council accepted three bids totaling more than $4.2 million in water projects Monday, pending only final approval from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The city had been hoping for federal stimulus funds to separate the city’s combined sewer and stormwater, replace the Ladd Road sewer, and do work on the water main work in the southeast part of town.

On Monday, engineer Jeff Snyder, of Chamlin and Associates said the city was finally at the last step before construction.

"We’ve been told, and following IEPA’s timeline, that that funding has been secured for these three projects," he said.

All three of the projects came in under engineers’ estimates. Two of the projects, including $2,755,286.50 for the combination sewer separation project and $795,986.80 for the Ladd Road sewer replacement project, were awarded to John Pohar & Sons of LaSalle.

The low bid for the water main rehabilitation project was for $602,467.90 from Conley Excavating of Morris. The city received a total of six bids for each of the projects.

Snyder said the projects have all been permitted, and the city has followed the IEPA’s guidance in getting the proper ordinances in place, getting the bids and reviewing them.

"It’s just a matter of going through all of the various documentation needed for the program to happen," he said.

Snyder wasn’t sure of when the final approval will be given, but said it should be by the end of September.

After the approval is given, the state will issue a notice to proceed.

"At that time we would be able to formally award the contracts and give issuance to the contractor that he’s ready to proceed and funds have been secured," Snyder said.

Snyder said work could begin as early as this fall.

"Once the contractor’s given a notice to proceed, he’s going to have to submit a project schedule," he said. "When we see the project schedule, that’s when we’ll know whether his intentions are starting yet this fall, or going into spring."

The IEPA’s stimulus funds are offered to eligible communities as a 25 percent grant and a 75 percent loan, offered at 0 percent interest with a payoff period of 20 years.

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