North Aurora hires construction manager for new station

The future North Aurora police station remains on schedule as the village board this week unanimously approved a construction manager for the facility to be located at the northwest corner of Route 31 and Airport Road.

Chicago-based Berglund Construction received the contract, which will pay 3 percent of the construction costs as well as .35 percent of the pre-construction costs, village Management Analyst Wes Kornowske said.

Earlier this year, an independent analysis of space needs estimated that the roughly 30,000 square-foot facility will cost between $10 and $12 million. However, Kornowske said the project budget will be more than just construction costs.

A representative for Berglund was not at Monday's meeting.

Hiring the construction manager was the second big step toward completion of the building. The village had previously hired Wold Architects and Engineers of Palatine to design the project.

Kornowske said the contract to Berglund is the culmination of more than two months of negotiating. He said the village had a preliminary meeting with Berglund in June and will meet again Aug. 6 to start planning the project.

The village timeline calls for the police station to operational by the summer of 2010.

Berglund was the firm recommended by the police facilities commission. Trustee and commission member Mark Gaffino said the firm has done great work in the past - including the police station in Montgomery. He added that they are known for working with municipalities to ensure client satisfaction.

"They are an outstanding company. They'll do a good job and they are known for being good to work with. We were looking for someone who would work with us. Some companies try to push their own ideas through," Gaffino said.

The board approved the contract 4-0. Trustees Mike Herlihy, Dale Berman and Village President John Hansen were absent.