2 firms top field for Vernon Hills library facility

Cook Memorial Public Library officials are eyeing two suburban general contracting firms to build a new library in Vernon Hills.

EVS Construction of Aurora and Boller Construction of Waukegan topped a field of 15 firms that submitted bids to construct the long-proposed facility on Aspen Drive south of Route 60, officials revealed during a meeting Tuesday night.

EVS estimated the project would cost about $5.5 million, while Boller estimated the job would cost $5.7 million.

Both bids were less than Cook Memorial's estimate of $5.8 million.

The library board took no formal action Tuesday. Like any government agency, the panel is required to hire the company with the least expensive and most responsible cost estimate for the project.

That wasn't entirely clear Tuesday because a discussed-but-not-approved basement level would change the project price and actually make Boller the lowest bidder.

In addition to building the Vernon Hills facility, library officials have pledged to expand the main library on Milwaukee Avenue in downtown Libertyville.

Each project is expected to cost $7 million. Officials have promised a tax-rate increase won't be necessary to pay for the work, that both projects would be funded with a loan and savings.

A temporary branch now operating in the basement of Vernon Hills' village hall will close when the Aspen Drive facility is built.

Libertyville village leaders have quibbled with library officials about the proposed design of the expansion in that town. The process has been considerably smoother in Vernon Hills, where there's been overwhelming support for the project.

The library board is next scheduled to meet Tuesday, Nov. 18.