Lake Forest City Council approves omnibus contracts and vendor renewals; one alderman recuses from vendor vote

The Lake Forest City Council voted March 18 to approve a package of routine contracts and ordinance readings and separately approved the annual vendor list after a conflict-of-interest disclosure.

During the omnibus portion of the agenda the mayor read nine items for consideration, including approval of the March 4, 2024 meeting minutes; renewal of the Hoare Construction Inc. sewer lining contract (authorization to execute an agreement not to exceed $275,000); waiver of bidding to authorize used police vehicle purchases up to $250,000; awarding a $225,000 contract to Northern Divers USA for the water plant intake cleaning project; and authorization to contract with a citywide elevator inspection service. The council also took first readings or considered approval of several building-review and zoning-board recommendations for specific residential addresses.

An unidentified speaker disclosed they work for West Janney Elsner Associates Inc. and requested that item 2 (the annual vendor approval for fiscal 2025) be heard separately. The council removed item 2 from the omnibus motion, approved items 1 and 3–9 by roll call, then took item 2 up separately.

When the council voted on item 2, the roll call shows Alderman Nobut, Alderman Knowles, Alderman Powers and Alderman Weber voting Aye and Alderman Walter stating, "I recused." The clerk announced the motion carried.

The meeting concluded after routine announcements and a motion to adjourn; total meeting time was approximately 11 minutes.