NORMAL – Normal Town Council members unanimously approved a contract with River City Construction LLC for the construction of the Town’s new $24.8 million multimodal transportation center.
Last month, Council members approved an agreement with the U. S. Department of Transportation for the Town to receive Federal grant money to help with the construction of the Transportation Center, to be located along Beaufort Ave.
The Town would receive $22 million for the proposed project under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant Program. Normal’s receiving TIGER funds for the project was announced by U. S. Senator Dick Durbin in February.
The Town received proposals from eight firms desiring the contract for the assignment. Because Federal TIGER Grant money was part of this project, contractors were required to submit a letter of interest, a list of the proposed contractor’s qualifications; a work plan, schedule, project approach, and quality control information; a list of proposed subcontractors, and a proposed price for performing the work.
Based in East Peoria, River City Construction beat out 7 firms; one each based in Morton, Peoria, Oakbrook Terrace, and Plainfield, as well as three Chicago-based firms.
Each firm was required to submit to both written and oral examinations, evaluated by a Town committee. Members of the committee included Mayor Chris Koos, City Manager Mark Peterson, Deputy City Manager Pamela Reece, Town Director of Inspections Greg Troemel; and Edward Scopel, from Indianapolis-based Ratio Architects, the architectural firm working on the project.
Koos called the multimodal transportation center the Town’s “last key project†in revitalizing Uptown Normal. He said the Town has been looking for nine years to find grant funds to help make the transportation center a reality.
He said it was nice that being able to get started on this project “dovetails†recent approval for high speed rail which will come through the community.
“We think River City will do an outstanding job,†Koos said.
River City Construction had the right combination from the Town’s point of view in a couple of respects, Koos said. River City presented the highest score in the presentations along with the lowest bid for the project of any of its competitors bidding for the assignment.
River City Construction’s bid saves the Town $6.8 million under the project’s original cost, Koos told Council members.
Such dollar savings figures “gives Normal a strong seat at the table as far as future projects are concerned,†said Council member Chuck Scott.
“The bid prices were extremely tight,†said City Manager Mark Peterson. “The United States Department of Transportation has bent over backwards to help move this forward. They’ve been wonderful to work with.â€
Peterson also credited the assistance of Reece, Uptown Development Director Wayne Aldrich, and Geoff Fruin, assistant to the City Manager.
Peterson also acknowledged the support of State and Federal leaders such as U. S. Sen. Dick Durbin, State Rep. Dan Brady (R-88th Dist.), State Sen. Debbie Halverson (D-40th Dist.), and U. S. Rep. Tim Johnson (R-15th Dist.) for the aid they provided for the project at the varying levels of government to help make the funding for the project a reality.
A formal groundbreaking ceremony for the Multimodal Transportation Center is being planned for sometime next month.
Westerdahl To Retire: Monday’s meeting was the last one Steve Westerdahl will attend. Westerdahl, who doubles as both Community Development Director and Purchasing Officer for the Town retires later this summer.
During the meeting, Peterson said Westerdahl “has been the catalyst for keeping the Sugar Creek Arts Festival and CornFest going.â€
Westerdahl’s impact on the Town got a very early start, Peterson said. Within roughly 30 days of Westerdahl being hired by the Town in the position then known as Personnel Director in 1977, Normal Firefighters went on strike for 56 days to earn their first contract.
The position of community Development Director will not be filled at present, as the Town continues to cut its budget, Peterson said. Instead, different aspects of the position Westerdahl held will be assigned to other Town departments.
Sugar Creek Arts Fest and CornFest will come under the jurisdiction of Normal Parks and Recreation, as assisted by the Uptown Development Office, Peterson said.
Proclamation Recognizes Sorority: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was honored with the night’s second proclamation, naming June 21 as Delta Day, honoring the sorority for “having clearly establishing itself as a public service organization that strives to confront the problems of African Americans, as well as all Americans through…educational development, economic development, international awareness and involvement, political awareness and involvement, and physical and mental health.â€
Some community organizations Delta Sigma Theta has been involved with include Habitat For Humanity, Diabetes and Stroke Awareness, Prevention of Domestic Violence; and AIDS and HIV Awareness. Etascha M. Johnson, President of Delta Sigma Theta’s Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter, accepted the proclamation on behalf of her group.
CVS Pharmacy Granted Liquor License: Council members, serving in the capacity of the Normal Liquor Commission, met prior to the beginning of the Council session and approved a pair of requests for liquor licenses.
One license was approved for Highland Park CVS, LLC, doing business as CVS Pharmacy, #8043, 206 North St.
A second liquor license was granted by Commissioners to Imperial Buffet, Inc., doing business as Imperial Buffet, 1950 E. College Ave.
Commissioners also approved imposed a fine on a trio of businesses for selling liquor to minors during a recent Town liquor audit conducted May 27. The three businesses cited by the Commission, and the fines imposed were:
Okgo Restaurant Group, LLC, doing business as Moe’s Southwest Grill, 1730 Bradford Lane, Suite 195, $250 for a first offense.
Bradford Lane Italian Foods, LLC, doing business as Rosati’s Pizza, 1702 Bradford Lane, $250 for a first offense.
C.Y. Heritage Inn of Bloomington, Inc., doing business as Bloomington-Normal Courtyard Inn, 310A Greenbriar Dr., $500 fine for a second offense. As a result of this being a second offense, the hotel had its liquor license suspended for two days, during which they could not serve alcohol. The suspension ran June 23 and 24.
Omnibus Agenda Items Approved: Omnibus agenda items approved by the Council included:
Approval of the minutes of the Council’s regular meeting of June 7, 2010.
Approval of Town of Normal expenditures for payment as of June 16, 2010.
A motion to approve the purchase of a transport truck trailer from the City of Bloomington in the amount of $15,000 for the Recycle Program and approve an associated budget adjustment.
A motion to waive the formal bidding process and accept a total net bid of $84,089 from Taylorville, Ill.-based Bob Ridings Ford for the purchase of a man-lift trick replacement for the Public Works Street Maintenance Division.
A resolution authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental agreement with McLean County for animal warden services.
A resolution authorizing the execution of an Intergovernmental agreement with McLean County for animal shelter services.
A resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement for technical planning services with the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.
A resolution approving a three-year agreement with Bloomington-based Marcfirst for litter collection services in the Uptown area and approval of a FY 2010-11 budget adjustment.
A resolution accepting temporary construction easement from Wayne and Lois Hochstetler – 2010 Vernon Ave. Bridge and Road Project.
A resolution approving a site plan for Midwest Fiber, located at 422 White Oak Rd.
An ordinance amending Sec. 15.4-3(B) of the Zoning Code (General Provisions – Uses and Structures).