Construction firm sues Huntley District 158 over payment

A construction firm is suing Huntley Unit District 158 over work it did on two Algonquin elementary schools.

A breach of contract lawsuit filed this week alleges District 158 did not pay Construction Systems of Staples, Minn. more than $680,000 owed to the company for its work at Conley and Mackeben elementary schools.

The suit, filed in McHenry County Circuit Court, claims Construction Systems did more than $1.7 million in work for the district, but was paid only about $1 million.

Construction Systems alleges it had to perform additional work because the district mismanaged construction of the schools, which opened in 2005.

The district "failed to coordinate the work of contractors - such that (Construction Systems) was unable to begin and complete its work in a timely fashion," the lawsuit reads.

District 158 Superintendent John Burkey said he was unaware of any issue with the company and that the firm had been fully paid for the work on the schools.

"We don't know anything about it," Burkey said. "There's not been any communication with them since I've been here."

Burkey, who started in July 2006, said the matter has been referred to the district's legal counsel.

A representative of Construction Systems did not return a call seeking comment.

In a similar suit filed this week, Construction Systems is seeking more than $1.2 million from Woodstock Unit District 200 for work it did on Woodstock North High School.