Cost concerns delay Elburn vote on Anderson Road extension
Amid concerns raised by some trustees, the Elburn village board this week postponed a pair of votes on the Anderson Road extension and intersection improvements project.
The project calls for constructing roughly 600 feet of new roadway on the south leg of the intersection at Anderson and Keslinger roads, building a left-turn lane on westbound Keslinger and installing and modernizing traffic signals.
The village is working on the project with Engineering Enterprises Incorporated.
But EEI is seeking a change order in the amount of $74,749.75 to pay for the cost of additional services, according to village board documents. The original contract was for $141,978.
Village President Jeffrey Walter asked board members for a motion to consider the change order request, only to let it die.
Trustee Kenneth Anderson questioned the amount of the change order and the accuracy of the original cost estimate.
Colleen Jaltuch, a representative for EEI, said the scope of services grew due to requirements imposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Village Administrator John Nevenhoven said it will be difficult to complete the project without expanding the scope of services.
"It seems like at every turn, we were running into external problems," he said.
Trustee Matt Wilson said he believes the added costs should have been brought to the village's attention sooner.
"If we don't want to move forward, we'll stop the project," Nevenhoven said.
In a related development, the village board postponed a vote on a resolution authorizing the match of local funds for Anderson Road intersection improvements.
The state has been in talks with the village about cost-sharing through a local public agency appropriation agreement, according to village board documents.
When Walter asked for a motion for a vote, the board balked, indicating that if it's not ready to consider the change order request, it also should delay a resolution authorizing the match of local funds for the Anderson Road intersection improvement project.
Nevenhoven suggested trustees review both topics again at their Feb. 18 meeting.