The Normal Town Council on Monday approved a contract worth more than $1.67 million for street repairs and resurfacing work.
The contract with H.J. Eppel and Company Inc., a Pontiac-based paving, excavating and construction company, is funded by the town Motor Fuel Tax Fund [MFT] and Roadway Fund. Street segments on Airport Road, multiple sections of Hovey Avenue and several roads that extend from Main Street are included on the project list.
The work is expected to begin this month and be completed of Oct. 15.
The bid was awarded over Rowe Construction, the company that was awarded the MFT street resurfacing contract in 2024, and which is currently working on a project at Landmark Drive and College Avenue. Rowe's bid also was found to be acceptable, but was higher by about $50,000.
Council member Karyn Smith noted a $463,000 per lane mile cost is a lower amount than in previous years.
Another approved contract involves a $259,720 bid for structure repairs to the town's water treatment plant building. The project required approval of a budget adjustment for an issue identified by town staff in addition to approval of the contract with Otto Baum.
Water department staff identified cracks and breaks in the concrete floor of the treatment plant’s garage. Otto Baum’s bid was the low bid, but still 54% higher than estimated by structural engineers when the problem was assessed. The approved motion both executed the contract and approved the budget adjustment.
Concert labor concerns
In another matter, a public commenter spoke to the council about labor concerns associated with Tailgate and Tallboys, the annual concert held at the Interstate Center, also known as the McLean County Fairgrounds.
Michael Irvin is the business agent for Local 193 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees [IATSE] that represents stagehands for the event. He alleged that USA Concerts and Events, the organizer of Tailgate and Tallboys, breached a labor contract by hiring out-of-state labor this year.
He claimed the event used stagehands not from IATSE to build the VIP section of the concert grounds that led to an injury during tear down. He also alleged outside labor was used for scaffolding, and those workers did not wear safety harnesses “at heights well above 20 to 30 feet.” These laborers, he said, come from Peachtree Entertainment of Tennessee that USA Concerts and Events partnered with this year.
“If the motive here is more concerned about profit than community and safety, I would strongly suggest ongoing site inspections to guarantee safety,” said Irvin.
USA Concerts and Events did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The festival is June 12-15.
In other business, the council:
— Approved appointments to the Connect Transit board and the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. Mandava Rao was reappointed to the Connect Transit board, and Annie Barrow was appointed to the planning commission, filling the vacancy left when Rory Roberge joined the town council.
Barrow is a faculty lecturer in Illinois State University’s Horticulture and Landscape Management program.
— Heard before the meeting that $52,000 in Harmon Arts Grants Awards were presented to numerous arts organizations and programs in the community.
