Boulder Hill water main project ready for Montgomery’s OK
By Judy Pochel For The Beacon-News March 14, 2013 9:50AM
Updated: April 16, 2013 3:45PM
MONTGOMERY — An $8.2 million water main construction project in Boulder Hill can begin this summer, pending final approval from the Montgomery Village Board.
Pete Wallers, president of Engineering Enterprises, told trustees the request for funding authorization will be ready for a vote on March 25, with advertising for bids to begin April 19 if the measure is approved.
Since plans for the work were released in early February, there has been one major change. Originally, public works and engineering officials had considered funding the project by getting a loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and a conventional loan from a bank.
But officials now say it could take about a year for approval of the IEPA loan, adding another 12 months of continued water problems for some residents in line for the new construction upgrades.
“We have a sense of urgency to get the project started. We are starting to see bids pick up and are not as low as they have been,” Wallers said.
So instead of seeking the EPA loan, the project will be done with only conventional loans.
Public Works Director Mike Pubentz said having the contracts all come via traditional funding will save time.
“It is a fairly long time delay when you are applying IEPA loans. The application and approval would take a year and we wouldn’t be able to start the project until 2014,” he said.
Pubentz and Wallers said the economy is picking up and bids are beginning to come in for higher amounts on several area projects, so delayed funding on a portion of the project may not be in the best interests of the village.
Water main ruptures, service interruptions and poor water quality have been a problem in the unincorporated Boulder Hill area for many years. Those residents buy their water from the village.
Five different funding plans have been created for trustees to determine how the money for a 20-year loan would be repaid. All options leave the residents in the area paying an additional $15 a month on their water bills.
“I think we’ve done a pretty good job to publicize the $15 monthly and I think it will come in just under that,” said Trustee Matt Brolley.
Last month, residents of the area met with village officials and engineers to discuss how the project would impact their homes. Pubentz said some of the “conditions have been a bit challenging. We have to be sure all the residents are comfortable with the project.”
“Trees that are in the right of way, some are township trees and we are going through those details now,” Pubentz said.
Current plans show that some trees that are being removed will be replaced after construction with new trees.
