Elfstrom Stadium renovation bids still higher than expected

After restructuring the bid process in the hopes of cutting costs, Kane County Forest Preserve officials learned Friday that the lowest bid for Elfstrom Stadium topped $12.1 million.

That's a million more than the first round of bids and more than double the amount committed by the forest preserve.

Officials from the forest preserve and the Kane County Cougars organization plan to meet next week to discuss the project. Both parties said they remain committed to overhauling the Geneva stadium, but it's unclear at this point which organization will back up its commitment with cash.

"We've always been willing to put up some more money," said Jeff Sedivy, Cougars vice president/general manager. "We just have to find a figure we're both comfortable with."

Two bids were submitted by Tuesday's deadline. The low bid was presented by Aurora-based R.C. Wegman. Palos Hills-based Skender Construction offered to do the project for $12.5 million.

The renovation will add a second-level seating area and other amenities to the ballpark, owned by the forest preserve and leased by the Cougars minor-league baseball team.

Officials from the forest preserve and the team tweaked the plan, replacing some materials with cheaper alternatives and undertaking other "value engineering" work designed to bring down the project cost after bids came in at $11 million in August.

For the second bid solicitation, officials used a general contractor format instead of the construction manager format originally used. Because subcontractors submitted costs directly to each general contractor, officials hoped to decrease the bottom line. But that didn't happen.

"Obviously the cost is significantly higher," Forest Preserve Commission President John Hoscheit said. "Our commitment remains the same."

The high bids are the latest in a series of hiccups related to the project. When officials approved the expansion project in 2006 they hoped to open the renovated stadium at the start of 2007 season. But that deadline soon proved elusive, so a 2008 opening was planned.

The new goal, decided two months ago, is to finish renovations on the 16-year-old ballpark in time for the start of the 2009 season.

A Class A affiliate of the Oakland A's, the Cougars signed a new 20-year contract with the forest preserve district last year stipulating their commitment to pay the district nearly $1 million a year to rent Elfstrom.