Joliet: Let's Pay Austin Tyler $20.1 Million, Reject Lower Bid

JOLIET — City of Joliet Manager Beth Beatty has urged the Joliet City Council not to go with the low bid by the Lindblad Construction Company of Joliet and instead award a contract of more than $20 million to Austin Tyler Construction for major street repairs and improvements including the long talked about downtown City Square project that fell several years behind schedule.

According to the city manager's memo: the Council has been asked to award the contract for the Chicago Street Streetscape, from Jefferson to Cass Streets, as well as the City Square and water main improvements to Austin Tyler Construction.

The Austin Tyler contract will not exceed $20,107,271.

Documents indicate that Joliet has developed the streetscape design of Chicago Street from Jefferson Street to Cass Street and City Square adjacent to Chicago Street from Van Buren Street to Clinton Street as well as utility improvements along this corridor.

The project is scheduled for construction through December 2025.

Back on June 13, two sealed bids were received for the Chicago Street Streetscape (Jefferson - Cass) City Square and Watermain Improvements:

• Lindblad Const Co of Joliet Inc. $19,435,945.95
• Austin Tyler Construction Inc. $20,107,270.88
• Engineer’s Estimate (As Read) $19,211,303.00
• Engineer’s Estimate (As Corrected) $18,638,453.15

However, Beatty's report to the City Council indicates "the low bid by Lindblad Const Co of Joliet Inc. was disqualified. The second-lowest bid by Austin Tyler Construction Inc., in the amount of $20,107,270.88, is 7.88% over the engineer’s estimate."

Despite the projected cost overrun, the Council was notified "sufficient funds exist utilizing the Rebuild IL Funds" in the amount of $2,501,760, Public Works Capital Funds: $4,970,286.60, CED Capital Funds, $8,985,816.07, Public Utilities Water Capital Fund: $2,697,565.11 and Public Utilities Sewer Capital Fund: $951,843.10.

"Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council award the Contract for the Chicago Street Streetscape (Jefferson - Cass) City Square and Watermain Improvements, in the amount of $20,107,270.88, on behalf of Austin Tyler Construction Inc," Beatty declared in her City Council memo.