Council approves package of contracts, purchases and license changes in unanimous consent and roll calls

The Waukegan City Council on Aug. 18 approved a multi-item consent agenda and several separate ordinances, clearing a bundle of contracts, vehicle and equipment purchases, settlements and two liquor-license increases.

The consent agenda included payroll and vendor ratifications and a slate of procurement and grant-related resolutions. Highlights approved by roll call included awarding the fiscal-year 2026 road program to Peter Baker & Son, purchase and installation of grinder systems for wastewater lift stations, multiple equipment purchases for public works and water utilities, and an intergovernmental sewer agreement with Lake County.

The council approved the following formal actions (motions listed as stated at the meeting):
- Award fiscal year 2026 road program to Peter Baker & Son for an amount not to exceed $5,687,601.40. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Downerworth. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Approve purchase and installation of grinder systems for lift stations 1 and 5 from Mississippi Valley Pump, not to exceed $192,300. Motion by Alderman Guzman; second by Alderman Newsom. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Reclassify funds for Pershing Road culvert design engineering with SIORBA Group in the amount of $185,249.47 (funding line adjustments stated in motion). Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Donworth. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Purchase two message boards from High Star Traffic, not to exceed $33,940. Motion by Alderman Donenworth; second by Alderman Guzman. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Approve professional services agreement with Water Treatment Specialist LLC for operational support at the water plant, not to exceed $88,400. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Donworth. Outcome: approved by roll call (item later held over for further review by Alderman Guzman — see audit note below).
- Purchase of Ford F-600 truck with snow-plow package from Cool Ones Auto Group, not to exceed $133,165.70. Motion by Alderman Dunningworth; second by Alderman Newsom. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Offshore intake cleaning contract with Bridal Marine Contractors Inc., not to exceed $43,750. Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Donworth. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Purchase 2026 Mack Granite dump truck from CIT Trucks through Sourcewell contract 032824-MAK, not to exceed $187,833. Motion by Alderman Dunworth; second by Alderman Hayes. Outcome: approved by roll call.
- Approve restated and amended sewage disposal agreement between the City of Waukegan and Lake County (restating original 1992 agreement and removing acreage/house-size limits tied to one subdivision). Motion by Alderman Newsom; second by Alderman Hayes. Outcome: approved by roll call.

The consent agenda also included routine approvals: payroll (regular payroll dated 08/08/2025, $2,136,714.36), a miscellaneous payroll lump sum ($50,858.31), and vendor payments for August 2025 totaling $1,338,858.06; and several workers’ compensation settlement approvals (amounts stated in staff materials). The minutes record these items as approved together by roll calls during the evening.

Two liquor-license increases were approved: a Class K catering license for the College of Lake County facility at 34 N. Sheridan (motion by Alderman Bolton; second by Alderman Felix) and a Class F-1 packaged beer/wine license for an existing BP station at 2601 Grand Ave. (motion by Alderman Turner; second by Alderman Felix). Both passed by roll call after brief council comment.

A conditional-use permit with a variance for motor-vehicle repair at 840 Grand Ave. (a parcel smaller than 15,000 square feet) was approved after the applicant confirmed no paint or major body work would be done at the site.

What the council said and next steps
Council members who moved or seconded motions were typically recorded at the time of each agenda item; roll-call tallies are recorded in the minutes and show most motions carried with numerical majorities. Several items referenced the city procurement code (identified in staff reports as “Section 2-4-5-8, subsection I”), and several purchases were authorized as professional-services or “good faith waiver” procurements consistent with that section as described by staff.

Items approved under the consent agenda will move into purchasing and contracting. Several of the equipment purchases and contractor awards cited specific budget line items in the staff report; those accounting references were read aloud by staff during the meeting.

Ending
Council members and staff described the consent approvals as routine business needed to keep capital projects, water operations and road maintenance moving ahead. Where questions were raised during the meeting—most commonly about project timing or vendor selection—staff said additional project-level information is available in BoardDocs and with the responsible department.