Carol Stream accepting rebids on landscaping

A contractor who does landscaping on the rights-of-way along Carol Stream roadways says its three-year contract with the village should have been renewed since it submitted the lowest of seven bids.

But a company official says a “personality conflict” with some village staffers may result in the village looking elsewhere to get its grass cut.

The TLC Group of Clarendon Hills has done landscaping work on eight village, county and state rights-of-way since 2008. When the village opened sealed bids for a new contract last month, TLC’s bid of $54,695 was the lowest. But another contractor, Zenith Landscaping of Wadsworth, included an extra $5,600 for mulching services in its price, which village officials allowed to be adjusted.

The bid documents requested a cost for applying mulch, but the last time mulch was applied under the contract was 2008, officials said. Village Manager Joe Breinig said its use is discretionary, and any mulch needed has been applied by village staff.

So Zenith’s adjusted bid of $50,255 ended up being lowest.

But that has the current landscaping provider upset that other contractors didn’t get the same opportunity to make bid changes.

Steven Gay, director of operations for TLC, said he thinks the village was just looking for a way to work with a new company.

It’s likely the result, he says, of conflicts between TLC and the village about late bill payments. Gay said his office manager had to “lean a little” on village staff to make sure the bills got paid and, occasionally, the village’s credit cards would get declined.

He estimates the village still owes between $5,000 and $7,000 for landscape work from last year.

“It’s really obvious that they didn’t want us,” Gay said.

Breinig wouldn’t comment on Gay’s statements, since TLC’s attorney has sent the village a letter indicating they may pursue litigation. However, Breinig said TLC and any other contractor would have an opportunity to rebid the contract.

On Monday, the village board voted 5-1 to reject all bids and allow rebidding.

“I don’t think we’ve done anything untoward,” Breinig said. “The most clean way to fix the situation is to rebid.”

A recommendation for a contractor is expected by the village board’s May 16 meeting. TLC’s current contract expires April 30.

Meanwhile, last week the Carol Stream Park District board renewed its contract with TLC for landscaping services.