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Flossmoor to power-up Village Hall, Public Works Service Center with new generators

Two Flossmoor municipal buildings will soon be getting re-energized.

The village board voted unanimously to approve a contract to pay Powerlink Electric Inc. $476,995 for the Village Hall Generator Improvements Project. The project includes the replacement of an emergency back-up generator to power the facility during outages.

Public Works Director John Brunke told trustees the existing generator is 45 years old and in need of replacement. It was also only sized to power the emergency back-up systems in the building, sometimes leaving administration, finance and the building department out of commission during outages.

Because the Village Hall serves as the emergency operations center during natural disasters or other emergencies, Brunke said it is critical that it can remain operational during all weather conditions.

Powerlink provided the lowest of six bids for the project. Brunke noted because of extended lead times, the village likely will not see delivery of the generator for at least 48 weeks.

Design and construction engineering by Christopher B. Burke Engineering is expected to cost a total of $38,500, bringing the project total to $515,495.

The village board also voted unanimously to approve a contract to pay $136,605.12 to Electrical Systems Inc. for the installation of an emergency back-up generator at the Public Works Service Center. Electrical Systems submitted the lowest of three bids for the project.

That generator is designed to power the facility during power outages, according to Brunke. The facility, built in 1996, did not include a generator during original construction, Brunke said.

Both projects came in “well over” the village’s budgeted amounts, attributed to high inflation and other factors, Brunke said. But staff does not anticipate prices coming down in the future and suggested proceeding with the projects now.

Design and construction engineering by Milhouse Engineering is expected to cost a total of $21,600, bringing the total cost of the project to $158,205.12. Brunke noted there is sufficient capital equipment fund balance to cover the cost of both projects.

The village does not currently have a timeline for the public works project because of delays for equipment, Brunke said. But he anticipates it will be close to the 48-week wait for the Village Hall generator.

“It is a smaller unit, so hopefully it’s a little quicker,” Brunke said. “But the lead times right now, some manufacturers are over a year.”

Pricing should remain the same for the village, Brunke said, because nothing in the bid allows for an increase down the road.

“It’s shocking how much things have gone up,” Trustee Gary Daggett said. “It’s unfortunate, but at the same time the facility has to have it. If we get storms coming through and you’re trying to service the rest of the community and you have no power, it’s tough to do your work.”

Other Business

  • The village board voted unanimously to approve its consent agenda, which included a loan agreement with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for Phase 4 of the Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. Flossmoor received a $1.48 million loan at a 1.11% interest rate, with semi-annual payments over 20 years. The loan is to cover a $1.28 million construction contract with Benchmark Construction Co.; $66,400 in design engineering and $89,950 in construction engineering, both by Baxter & Woodman; and $38,640 in contingency funds. 
  • The consent agenda also included a contract to pay Strand Associates Ltd. $157,800 to perform observation services for the 2022 Street Rehabilitation Project. Strand is already involved with the Flossmoor’s water supply project and its work has been “excellent,” according to Brunke.

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