Mount Vernon awards street‑maintenance and water‑main bids, plans manhole relining

Acting City Manager Nathan McKenna presented multiple infrastructure procurement items on May 19, and the council approved staff recommendations.

Illini Asphalt was the sole bidder on the in‑house overlay materials at $78,855.58, below the $89,227 budgeted amount. ET Simonds was the low bidder on contracted overlays at $296,259. Packages 2 and 3, which cover materials for the patching machine, received no bids from the usual vendor and will be rebid.

For the South 45th Street and Route 15 water‑main relocation, Haier Plumbing was the low bidder at $94,080, higher than the $75,000 budgeted amount. McKenna said the work should be done before IDOT starts work on exit 95; the project will be paid from the water fund with the difference covered by reserves in the Working Fund Balance.

Council also granted staff permission to seek bids for the 2025 Manhole Relining Project with $275,000 budgeted from the sewer fund; staff said there are approximately 66 manholes and the city will reline as many as funds permit.

Separately, staff requested and the council approved waiving bidding to relocate a leaking Fountain Place water main now (estimated cost $36,700) to avoid cutting new roadway in future work.