City to save nearly $1.3 million by switching provider to replace lead service lines on northwest side

QUINCY — The Quincy City Council approved during its Monday meeting a bid of $2.727 million from Hood Construction of Rushville to replace as many as 340 lead service lines on the city’s northwest side. 

A resolution to award a $4.038 million contract to Wiemelt Plumbing to replace the lines, between Cherry and Locust and between Second and Fifth, was tabled at the City Council’s March 3 meeting. Dave Bauer (D-2), a member of the Utilities Committee, said the committee was concerned about the time Hood has taken to replace lead water lines on 12^th Street last year.

Director of Public Works Jeffrey Conte said the city has worked with Hood on three projects. One was on Van Buren, and Conte said there were no issues. A second project was between 14^th and 16^th on Adams, and Conte said “a couple of issues” with that project were resolved. Conte admitted the 12^th Street project, going south from State Street, took longer “than it probably should have.”

“There were some deficiencies that were pointed out about the grade on the manhole covers and valve boxes, but we contacted them and they corrected them pretty promptly,” Conte said. “I mean, every project has issues. … (Hood) came back and corrected them and didn’t ask for additional funds and cry about it.”

“Is everything on 12th Street done, and everybody’s happy and there’s no issues?” Greg Fletcher (R-1) asked.

“I wouldn’t go that far and say that,” Conte said. “I know (Hood is) still out there working.”

Bauer also said the committee was concerned that Hood’s bid wasn’t legal because it wasn’t posted in timely manner, but it later learned it was.

Richie Reis (D-6) asked Conte if was comfortable with the difference between the $3.9 million estimated cost of the project and the $2.7 million bid by Hood. Conte said about half of the difference in the cost was the amount Hood estimated to replace a meter inside a home.

“I put down $1,750 to do it, and he had about $362,” Conte said. “He’s thinking he can replace a meter in three hours. I don’t know. That seems a little shy to me. … I mean, the proof is in the pudding. The way this is going to work is he doesn’t get paid until he actually completes the whole service. If he can’t do the services for the amount that he bid, we don’t owe him any money. 

“I discussed this with him several times and let him know that I was concerned about this bid. It’s not in city’s best interest to see a contractor come in and cut corners to make up for a bid. But he’s confident in that number, so I really can’t question him.”

Hood has until Dec. 31 to complete the project. Conte said the city must pay 20 percent (approximately $600,000) of the project cost, with the remainder covered by $2.4 million in grant money. The lower bid by Hood could allow for 30 more nearby residences to receive installations.

The City Council voted first to table the Wiemelt bid indefinitely before accepting the Hood bid.

Aldermen also voted 7-5 to approve spending $346,826.36 with Wireless USA of Maryland Heights, Mo., for the installation of 203 cloud-based video surveillance cameras, a five-year license and data storage contract. Voting against the resolution were Greg Fletcher (R-1), Jeff Bergman (R-2), Tony Sassen (R-4), Richie Reis (D-6) and Jake Reed (R-6).

“We’ve had people in this location followed or approached in their cars in the parking lot south of this building,” Mayor Mike Troup told aldermen. “Numerous times when we learned that’s happened without our cameras, we’ve asked (Police) Chief (Adam) Yates if he’s had extra patrol to come around and protect. Still, we have a void, not only inside the buildings but around the properties.”

Cameras woud be installed throughout City Hall, the City Hall annex and the parking lot between the two, as well as all the firehouses, the water treatment plant, the barge dock, Central Services, the landfill, the Amtrak station and the airport.

In other action, aldermen:

• Waived the peddler’s license fee for the women’s auxiliary.
• Approved a request by Four Points Land Surveying & Engineering to subdivide property with no address near 48th and College under the “small tracts” provision of the subdivision ordinance.
• Approved Troup’s appointment of Laura Bergman to the Quincy Public Art Commission.
• Approved the renewal of a software service maintenance agreement with Route Match, the scheduling system for Quincy Transit Lines’ disabled and elderly service, at a cost of $27,665.62.
• Approved a quote from Dalmation Fire Equipment LLC for $7,535 for the rental of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The Quincy Fire Department contracts with Western Illinois University to deliver a six-week basic operations firefighter practicum as a requirement for its firefighter/paramedic degree. The program requires students wear the SCBA while participating in live fire training activities. Fees paid by each student in the course include the SCBA rental fee.
• Approved an invoice from Richards Electric of Quincy for $24,108.18 for the relocation of an electrical service and equipment controls for the aeration system at the wastewater treatment plant, and an invoice for $94,974.37 for materials and labor required for the installation of electrical equipment at the plant.
• Approved an invoice for $34,479.22 from Sparrow Plumbing of Quincy for materials and labor required for the installation of piping and plumbing equipment at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Approval a proposal for $24,461.00 from Knapheide of Quincy to buy and install a new dump truck body.
• Approved of a quote for $7,880 from Midwest Meter, Inc. of Edinburg for the purchase of eight two-inch water meters and meter reading devices.
• Approved a proposal from Bobcat of Springfield, Ill., for $84,139 to buy a Bobcat T740 Compact Track Loader (Skid Steer) to assist with the loading and hauling of dewatered biosolids from the wastewater treatment plant to a temporary stockpile at the City’s old brush collection site.
• Approved an invoice for $12,000.06 from Hawkins, Inc., of Roseville, Minn., to buy 4,580 pounds of polymer — used in the dewatering of biosolids — at the cost of $2.6201 per pound.
• Authorized a bill of sale of the Engine House Inc. corporate hangar at Quincy Regional Airport to Richardson Farms Outfitters of Jacksonville that was executed on Oct. 7, 2024.