The Homewood Village Board approved a $49,800 contract with Burns & McDonnell for engineering and planning work tied to the village’s 2027 Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) project at the Nov. 11 meeting.
The replacement project is mandated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to be completed by 2037, and is set to cost the village approximately $70 million over the next decade. The 2027 phase of the LSLR project is expected to include engineering and construction planning for the replacement of up to 235 additional lead service lines, Homewood Assistant Village Manager Terence Acquah said.
Under the agreement, Burns & McDonnell will prepare a multi-year Project Plan and Funding Nomination Forms required by the IEPA. Those submissions are critical for Homewood to qualify for State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) financing and potential principal forgiveness for the 2027 construction cycle. The firm will also produce bid-ready engineering drawings and specifications, and other documents needed to keep the program on schedule for 2027, Acquah said.
Engineering costs are expected to be reimbursed to the village once SRF funds are awarded for fiscal year 2027, he said.
Burns & McDonnell was among four firms that submitted proposals following a formal Request for Proposals issued Oct. 10. The village received bids ranging from $49,800 to $218,860. Staff recommended Burns & McDonnell based on its competitive price and its history with providing services to Homewood. The firm previously served as engineer for the village’s water main transmission line project, which finished on time and under budget, and has been Homewood’s primary engineering consultant for earlier phases of the LSLR project, he said.
In 2024, Burns & McDonnell helped the village secure a 0%-interest IEPA loan for fiscal year 2026 for the LSLR with $2.46 million of the $4.14 million loan qualifing for principal forgiveness. Staff is expecting there to be more competition next time around since more Illinois communities compete for limited loan forgiveness dollars, Acquah said.
According to Acquah, construction management and water main design services tied to the 2027 LSLR project have not yet been awarded. The village will evaluate Burns & McDonnell’s performance during the 2026 cycle before deciding whether to extend the partnership or solicit proposals from a new engineering firm.
The $49,800 will be paid from the Water/Sewer Fund, he said.
