Carpentersville set to start on public works facility

Construction of the new Carpentersville public works facility will begin within the month after village trustees accepted project bids and the maximum costs for the 87,000-square-foot facility that will be built on the village's east side.

Trustees voted 6-0 to approve the maximum costs for the first phase of the project of about $7.3 million. That work would include items such as earthwork, site utilities and concrete paving. The board also unanimously approved the maximum costs for part two of the project of almost $3.5 million. The second phase of the project would include plumbing, fire suppression, fleet equipment, HVAC and electrical work.

Mark Bushhouse, president of Carol Stream-based Williams Architects, said the project is expected to come about $500,000 under the estimated $12 million budget. Bushhouse said good contractor estimates and a competitive bidding climate amounted to the significant cost-savings.

The village received more than 130 bids from contractors and suppliers for the project.

In addition, Public Works Director Bob Cole said the staff had searched for ways to save money, like completing work in-house such as clearing trees from the site, purchasing furniture and installing sewer utilities. The village also saved about $200,000 by using concrete paving for the driveway instead of asphalt.

The new facility, planned for a 24-acre site the village owns near the water treatment facility in the Old Town area, would house the village's public works staff, vehicles and other equipment.

A space-needs study completed in 2005 indicated the department needed about 142,000 square feet to operate effectively. The current 9,000-square-foot public works facility houses 30 full-time employees with space to store 14 vehicles inside. The department owns 76 vehicles and other pieces of equipment.

The village board chose to eliminate a second level that could be transformed into office space in the future to ensure the cost remains below $12 million. Village officials approved a $20 million bond to finance the construction.

About $12 million would be spent on the facility, with the remainder buffering the village's capital improvement program to fix streets and sidewalks.