[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6300321,"mediaKeyId","2493249-7c0c675bde0152664b08de1eee404dae","parentId",2493249,"title","Votes at a glance: Joliet Council approves contracts, vehicle purchases, ordinances and licenses","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3224000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493249-7c0c675bde0152664b08de1eee404dae&start=3224&end=3224","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493249-7c0c675bde0152664b08de1eee404dae/thumbnail_3224000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300321/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Votes-at-a-glance-Joliet-Council-approves-contracts-vehicle-purchases-ordinances-and-licenses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300321-e133537cf4e271b37302c3eaddf59f80/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089324&Signature=WcTfC46vNBEKFkLE9D2EAAZM8Laifmcixgjn8WqvV-ASOhqq9lfmz8OgLDkmiLmi6JbLnjMYzAkb2U~xFsF7d~l9qIOd-aQTNRfHMXvG2ug7EbSxr51IPxT2rgwokMAU4VcLtgCiagxyfbnS0q2H0gPeCRUylelTi5rIiSgBoKmctD2P0FWdEQpML54IVsdA5M~n94iXBbsSgLI5q2PYlbFNyIAqvq9DUSiiSL2NtKyxjY3ymx1TAATM5cFJrSvGUclkckf78jifxDjalkRV1RmZx1Vnndd7yvptVf8aCcJl~Hlhp9OUnJImiiwjqCoeDWEIVTEUxUlDnnY1CUePvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Joliet, IL","date","2025-03-04T23:53:06Z","article","The City of Joliet City Council on March 4 approved a slate of contracts, purchases, ordinances and licenses and recorded several individual votes on larger construction awards.

Highlights

- The council approved multiple professional services agreements and purchases on the consent agenda, including a $539,650 award to RJN Group for the 2025 sanitary sewer investigations program and a $511,140 award to Kavanaugh and Associates for water loss control technical assistance.

- The council awarded a contract for the Westmere valve‑bolt replacement project to Stitt Brothers Excavating Inc. in the amount of $1,139,875. The motion carried; Councilwoman Quillman abstained, citing a pending grievance.

- The council approved the Fairmont Water and Sewer Extension project award to Steve Speese Construction Inc.; council discussion noted the work is funded using Will County ARPA funds set aside for the project. The motion carried.

- The city approved the purchase and outfitting of 22 Ford 2025 Explorer pursuit interceptors (21 for the police department and 1 for the fire department) in an amount not to exceed $1,428,002.70.

- Multiple ordinances amending chapter 4, article 2 of the city code were adopted, and the council voted to deny a special‑use permit for a staffing agency at 1504 Essington Road (motion to deny carried).

- The council approved several resolutions, including acceptance of a Justice Assistance Grant and a memorandum of agreement with the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau for Route 66 Park circulation improvements, and a CDBG reprogramming HUD substantial amendment for the 2024 program year. The council also appropriated Rebuild Illinois bond funds for an advanced traffic management system purchase order ($79,430.81) and approved an intergovernmental agreement with Will County on traffic signal maintenance.

- The council issued multiple liquor licenses, including a Class N license for Ceramic Creations at 3039 Theodore Street, a Class A license for Hollywood Joliet Casino at 1401 Gateway Boulevard and a Class B license for Delgado Sports Bar at 950 Collins Street.

Selected roll-call and notable votes

Westmere valve‑bolt replacement (Council memo 167‑25)
Motion: Award contract to Stitt Brothers Excavating Inc. for Westmere valve‑bolt replacement in the amount of $1,139,875.
Outcome: Approved; motion carried.
Recorded votes: Larry Hugg (Aye), Councilwoman Navarro (Aye), Councilman Mudrin (Aye), Councilwoman Quillman (Abstain), Councilwoman Reardon (Aye), Councilman Cardenas (Aye), Councilman Clement (Aye), Councilman Guerrero (Aye), Mayor Terry Darcy (Aye).

Fairmont Water and Sewer Extension (Council memo 168‑25)
Motion: Award contract for Fairmont Water and Sewer Extension to Steve Speese Construction Inc. (amount shown on memo in council packet).
Outcome: Approved; motion carried.
Recorded votes (as announced in meeting): Councilwoman Navarro (Aye), Councilman Mudrin (Aye), Councilwoman Quillman (Aye), Councilwoman Reardon (Aye), Councilman Cardenas (Aye), Councilman Clement (Aye), Councilman Guerrero (Aye), Councilman Hugg (Aye), Mayor Terry Darcy (Aye).

Denial of special‑use permit for staffing agency, 1504 Essington Road (Council memo 173‑25)
Motion: Motion made and seconded to deny special‑use permit.
Outcome: Motion to deny carried.
Recorded votes: Councilman Cardenas (Aye), Councilman Clement (Aye), Councilman Guerrero (Aye), Councilman Hugg (Aye), Councilwoman Navarro (Aye), Councilman Mudrin (Aye), Councilwoman Quillman (Aye), Councilwoman Reardon (Aye), Mayor Terry Darcy (Aye).

Other consent and agenda approvals (selected)
- Appointment: Katie Gulis to the Joliet Public Library Board replacing Carla Montagano Liberti — Approved (motion carried).
- Professional services and purchases on consent: RJN Group ($539,650), Kavanaugh & Associates ($511,140), Duffield Consulting Engineers ($63,874), Geotech Engineering Inc. for Route 66 Park survey/design ($32,500), Dutchman Contracting Corp. windows for Fire Station 1 ($32,000), Integrity Concrete Coatings flooring for Fire Station 9 ($30,212), Heartland Business Systems network switch materials ($79,430.81), change orders to PT Farrell construction (details in packet). — All on consent and approved.
- Resolution approvals: Justice Assistance Grant acceptance; memorandum of agreement with Heritage Corridor CVB for Route 66 Park improvements; CDBG reprogramming and HUD substantial amendment; appropriation of Rebuild Illinois bond funds for ATMS Phase B network switch materials ($79,430.81); intergovernmental agreement with Will County for traffic signal maintenance. — All adopted.
- Licenses: Issuance of Class N (Ceramic Creations), Class A (Hollywood Joliet Casino), and Class B (Delgado Sports Bar) liquor licenses — Approved.

What the council said: Council members repeatedly noted that many of the projects are funded from non‑city tax dollars (state grants, federal programs or county ARPA), and staff emphasized the need to coordinate scheduling across projects to minimize repeat street work. Councilwoman Quillman abstained on the Westmere award citing a pending grievance; she said she wanted to avoid future grievances before voting.

Public‑safety items handled through committee and moved to full council included purchases for station windows and flooring and acceptance of grants; full Council then approved the listed items via the consent agenda or individual vote as recorded.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Joliet Council Meeting, March 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 4 meeting the City of Joliet approved multiple professional services agreements, awarded construction contracts including Westmere valve-bolt replacement and Fairmont water/sewer work, purchased police and fire vehicles, adopted ordinances and issued liquor licenses; the council denied a special-use permit for a staffing agency.","taxTitle","Joliet, Will County, Illinois","taxId",2650,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6300326,"Joliet details multi-year water-main replacement plan; 2025 work to cover about 30 miles",518,211000,729000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493249-7c0c675bde0152664b08de1eee404dae&start=211&end=729","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493249-7c0c675bde0152664b08de1eee404dae/thumbnail_211000.jpg","/articles/6300326/Joliet/Will-County/Illinois/Joliet-details-multi-year-water-main-replacement-plan-2025-work-to-cover-about-30-miles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300326-efc7a5c279bbf96c450decaaea2dd10a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089324&Signature=TgkaxShFscI1NZf-09uckaUTiCacoWE4kh~rMOIoGt9sH19vsPmcT9xXBPBZA9bzz8xOFkSQ1aEe8xpAvmdx-AnoTlC2C1S3uRsZcgHfVuL0LWCzxBRUlWxumiSBGpYSxySQaKLkO39OwW4LwZkngA5aWcAWUyIqefxTr061yesTXuLM4edqx8u1d2YcV5tBJe1OoKRsjn9blIp8soPK7bnRVy2LACMuq~VKNnK4gnvIQydsuBgWEJW2nofS1ucxPCLidQRshVI1lGiirAhEZVzybfbRF952j3~lAh8bRj9GdOuEU-cSwwxE1KRRBDoRnzrxy9UHWYNGiF7-VXweSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allison Swisher, director of public utilities for the City of Joliet, gave the City Council an update March 4 on a multi-year water-main replacement program aimed at cutting leaks and reducing the city’s non-revenue water.

Swisher told the council the program will prioritize mains constructed before 1970 and rely heavily on low-interest financing. “We are replacing all of the water mains within the city that were, constructed prior to 1970,” she said. She described the overall replacement effort and a separate 2025 work program focused on areas with the most water loss.

The city’s longer-term financing plan relies on the Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the federal WIFIA program. Swisher said the broader program cost is roughly $594,000,000, and the City’s 2025 program will cover about 30 miles at an approximate cost of $75,000,000.

Why it matters: the city is trying to lower “non-revenue water” — water lost to leaks and breaks — to 10% by 2030. Swisher said reducing real losses (pipe leaks) is the primary contributor toward that target and will also reduce outages for residents when mains break.

Swisher described how the city will coordinate multiple programs to reduce repeat digging and disruption. “One of the biggest keys to our success is communication with our residents,” she told the council, describing a communications plan that emphasizes an interactive project map and weekly updates on the city website. The city also intends to coordinate timing with resurfacing and sewer rehabilitation so crews “dig once.”

Lead service lines: Swisher said crews will replace full lead services when encountered during main replacements — both the public portion and the private portion — “at no cost to the residents.” She said Joliet has an inventory of service-line material and a public resource page at joliet.gov/gettheleadout.

Construction oversight and outreach: Swisher said the city has contracted Burns & McDonnell to provide on-site inspectors and resident engineers for the projects. Outreach tools will include mailed letters (3,500 letters were sent recently), an open house at the Treatment Plant Administration Building, neighborhood presentations, Everbridge notifications, social media and door hangers before construction starts and at major milestones.

Timing and next steps: Swisher said work will begin this spring and that schedule staggering is intended to achieve better contractor pricing and to balance inspection staff resources. She asked for patience from drivers and residents as construction season progresses.

“Again, this is our 2025 program. It's approximately 30 miles,” Swisher said. “We do a lot of coordination with our public works projects and the resurfacing projects...we really want to have a policy of only digging once.”

The update was given as part of the council’s regular meeting; no final action or contract award on the citywide replacement program was taken at the March 4 session.

","Director of Public Utilities Allison Swisher told the City Council the city will prioritize replacing water mains built before 1970, pair replacements with lead service-line removal at no cost to residents, and use low-interest state and federal financing including IEPA SRF and WIFIA.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Joliet Council approves contracts, vehicle purchases, ordinances and licenses

Joliet details multi-year water-main replacement plan; 2025 work to cover about 30 miles