Local Residents get Priority in Jobs Created by Capital Improvement Projects

As the Village of New Lenox is moving ahead with plans to build a $9.9 million police station and an $9 million public works facility, board members emphasized a commitment to hire qualified local residents and award contracts or parts of contracts to New Lenox businesses.

Construction of the two buildings and necessary upgrades at the sanitation plant are part of an overall $27 million capital improvement plan that also includes the extension of Nelson Road between Haven Avenue and Illinois Highway. Last year the New Lenox Village Board voted to increase its sales tax by a 1/2 cent, bringing the total rate to 8.5 percent, and also increase its utility tax 5 percent on gas and electric to help pay for the projects.

On Monday, the village authorized the first of as many as three general obligation bond issues to begin work on the projects. The project is expected to get underway in the spring of 2013. The $9.9 million bond issue helps to advance the construction of the new public works facility and police station. It also provides funding for EPA-required upgrades to the existing sanitary plant.

Another $6.6 million was approved Monday to take advantage of lower interest rates on the 2004 construction of the village hall.  

A commitment to hire local residents

Nancy Dye, village trustee, said the village has pledged itself to supporting local residents in the form of jobs and job creation. Since the economy tanked in 2008, the village has worked to assist local residents with securing employment.

Certainly, the construction of the new public works and police station buildings will bring opportunities for local residents and businesses, but that's not the only the municipal staff and board has demonstrated its support of the community, she said.

In coordination with ShareFest 2012, the Sept. 7 job fair at the Village Hall attracted 400 employment seekers, many of whom were from New Lenox or surrounding communities. The job fair provided one-on-one resume review sessions and offered presentations on real-life interviewing skills, instruction on online applications and the ins and outs of successful networking.

In addition, the village makes sure to alert the community about job openings in the area. Dye pointed out that both Portillo's Restaurant and Walmart acted on the village's suggestion for an in-town office to accept and conduct interviews for the benefit of New Lenox residents.

At the Sept. 24 board meeting, Mayor Tim Baldermann was clear in his directive to project developers for the public works project that qualified local residents and New Lenox-based business get priority on jobs created throughout the construction.

Fully aware that taxpayer dollars are funding these projects, Baldermann said, "we want as much of the labor work (as possible) to go to our residents."

In light of the fact that New Lenox is comprised of a significant number of labors and craftsmen, the mayor said he wants to ensure that the village is paying the "prevailing/union wage."

Part of the responsibility handed to 4M Group, a business support service company, was ensuring authentic tracking of jobs that went to New Lenox residents.

Trustee Ray Tuminello said, "We want to get the word out" that the village is giving its own residents priority on these jobs.

Brad Wood, of Northern Builders, the same company that developed the Cherry Hill Industrial Park at Gougar Road and Haven Avenue, announced that he would adhere to the village's directive. "Northern Builder's objective is to hire as many local residents and New Lenox businesses" as possible.

Baldermann insisted that even if a small contractor from the community couldn't take on the complete scope of a particular project within the overall design that the developer must be willing to contract for portions of the job.

"Maybe they can't do all the heating and ventilation in a building that size, but they can do part of it," said the mayor.

Trustee David Smith was interested in ensuring that the payroll from these capital improvement projects "promoted growth in the community."   

Slow growth in the housing industry prompts extension for Hartz

Robin Ellis, village planning and development director, recommended and the board approved a two-year extension on a plat agreement for a 38-acre housing plan. Hartz Construction Corp. requested to extend the plat approval for Leigh Creek South.

In addition, the preliminary plat for Sky Harbor, another housing subdivision, was given a 12-month extension. Only a handful of houses have been built, said Ellis.       

Read, "Village Explains Capital Improvement Plans."

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