State is stiffing contractors hired for College of Lake County work

Tired of not getting paid by the state of Illinois for about six months, some contractors have stopped working on a $2.5 million remodeling project at College of Lake County's Grayslake campus.

In addition, the Illinois Capital Development Board still owes nearly $1.8 million to crews that renovated space at CLC's downtown Waukegan campus for a dental hygiene clinic open since June 8, the agency confirmed. That project started late last year.

Capital development board spokesman David Blanchette blamed the state's financial woes for the contractors being stiffed.

"We do not fault them for not working," Blanchette said.

CLC spokeswoman Evelyn Schiele said the state hired the contractors for both projects and is responsible for paying them. The capital development board is the construction management arm of state government.

Nancy McNerney, acting vice president of administrative affairs for CLC, said the job in question in Grayslake involves remodeling of a structure to accommodate a medical imaging laboratory and physics classes. She said the general contractor, Boller Construction Co. of Waukegan, remained on the job Thursday.

But Ernie Peterson Plumbing Inc. of Waukegan recently walked away from the CLC job in Grayslake. President Ron Peterson said Thursday he no longer could justify sending four workers to CLC with the state's unpaid tab at $138,875.

"That's the only way to get their attention," said Peterson, whose family business has 25 employees.

Classes that were shifted to CLC's new technology wing freed space in the older building that's being remodeled. Blanchette said the state hasn't made any payments for the $2.5 million in contracted work by plumbers, electricians and other trades since the project began in January.

"The problem with this is the state's fiscal situation is abysmal, and it's causing payments to all sorts of vendors to be late," Blanchette said.

CLC officials said plans are to have the medical imaging and physics classes in the renovated building in the fall.

Blanchette said the state owes Boller about $1 million for work at CLC's Waukegan and Grayslake campuses. Boller President Lyle Ehlers could not be reached for comment.

Peterson said the plumbers sent to CLC for about six months could have been performing revenue-generating work for the company elsewhere. He said state jobs may not be as attractive to contractors as they were in the past because of the potential for payment problems.

"I'd be a little leery now," Peterson said when asked about his desire to seek more state work.