Wheaton agrees to spend about $4 million on road, sewer, water rehabilitation

The Wheaton City Council picked a company to do work for this year's road, sewer and water rehabilitation program at a price of nearly $4 million Monday.

R.W. Dunteman Co. was the lowest, and winning, bidder for the project, which includes the reconstruction and resurfacing of city roads that need repairs based on a revolving 20-year schedule and a needs assessment.

The work also includes the repair of sanitary and storm sewers and replacement of water mains under certain roads that are part of this year's program.

About $3.6 million had been set aside for the work in the 2014-15 draft budget, which will be discussed at three upcoming budget workshops.

City Manager Don Rose said the more than $344,000 shortfall will likely be taken out of the motor fuel tax fund, which has about $250,000 more than is recommended to keep on hand. Taking the money out of the general fund, he said, is also an option.

"We are recommending that we go ahead with the work that we have identified in the bid documents," he said.

The bid was higher than the engineering estimate, Rose said, because of a change in the proposed work for Woodlawn Street. Poor soil discovered under the surface of the road will need to be removed and replaced with other materials.

An increase in the cost of asphalt materials and the cost to dispose construction debris at landfills also resulted in the higher bid, he said.

Rose added that the amount of money being put into the road, sewer and water rehabilitation program this year is at least $500,000 more than last year.

"We're behind on what we need to be doing with the roads," he said.