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The village of Lombard approved the second reading of the downtown plan and is moving forward with a new contract for maintenance on one of the village's standpipes.
The issue
The village of Lombard has been looking at ways to improve the downtown area to increase retail business, community image and bring more people into the town, whether to live or just to visit.
What we knew
After a collaborative effort of the Teska Associates consulting team and 45 Lombard residents, a preliminary development plan for a new downtown concept was presented through numerous open houses to the public at Lombard's Village Hall. From there, the village took community feedback and edited the plan to fit the general response.
What happened
The Village Board of Trustees approved the final draft of the Downtown Lombard Revitalization project Guidebook/Plan at a March 3 village board of trustees meeting. At the second monthly board of trustees meeting Wednesday, the board gave the document final approval and it passed on second reading.
What's next
The plan has officially become a village document now that it's been approved. Implementation will begin following the guidelines in the report, but will be based solely on the availability of funding and possible new development activity. The implementation chapter specifically identifies what needs to be done in the next 12 months, as well as short and longer term goals. Bill Heniff, director of community development, said the one common theme that came from the community meetings and the committee review of the project is the desire to see tangible improvements in the more immediate or short term.
"An advantage of adopting the plan is that it gives such a framework," Heniff said.
The issue
One of the village's standpipes located on North Avenue, just west of Lombard Avenue, went under recent improvements and more than 140 deficiencies were found with the standpipe. The standpipe is not in use now and the village is looking to fix this issue. One of the main deficiencies is holes in the roofing, meaning the entire roof will need replacement. The structure holds nearly 1.6 million gallons of water.
What we knew
The standpipe was constructed in 1955 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Bolingbrook. Lombard Public Works Director said minimal repairs and improvements have been needed throughout the last 56 years and the standpipe has always been up to standards.
The village of Lombard approved the second reading of the downtown plan and is moving forward with a new contract for maintenance on one of the village's standpipes.
The issue
The village of Lombard has been looking at ways to improve the downtown area to increase retail business, community image and bring more people into the town, whether to live or just to visit.
What we knew
After a collaborative effort of the Teska Associates consulting team and 45 Lombard residents, a preliminary development plan for a new downtown concept was presented through numerous open houses to the public at Lombard's Village Hall. From there, the village took community feedback and edited the plan to fit the general response.
What happened
The Village Board of Trustees approved the final draft of the Downtown Lombard Revitalization project Guidebook/Plan at a March 3 village board of trustees meeting. At the second monthly board of trustees meeting Wednesday, the board gave the document final approval and it passed on second reading.
What's next
The plan has officially become a village document now that it's been approved. Implementation will begin following the guidelines in the report, but will be based solely on the availability of funding and possible new development activity. The implementation chapter specifically identifies what needs to be done in the next 12 months, as well as short and longer term goals. Bill Heniff, director of community development, said the one common theme that came from the community meetings and the committee review of the project is the desire to see tangible improvements in the more immediate or short term.
"An advantage of adopting the plan is that it gives such a framework," Heniff said.
The issue
One of the village's standpipes located on North Avenue, just west of Lombard Avenue, went under recent improvements and more than 140 deficiencies were found with the standpipe. The standpipe is not in use now and the village is looking to fix this issue. One of the main deficiencies is holes in the roofing, meaning the entire roof will need replacement. The structure holds nearly 1.6 million gallons of water.
What we knew
The standpipe was constructed in 1955 by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Bolingbrook. Lombard Public Works Director said minimal repairs and improvements have been needed throughout the last 56 years and the standpipe has always been up to standards.
What happened
The Public Works Department asked the village board for guidance on this issue and how to best solve it. The department's suggestion was to waive the competitive bidding process and contract with the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. This company, being the original creator of the standpipe, already has all the documents necessary for repairing the standpipe.
The village directed Public Works to move forward in waiving the competitive bidding process and contract with the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, as they were the original creator of the standpipe. Public Works then had three items on Wednesday's agenda in regards to the standpipe. Two of those were to terminate the current contracts with Tecorp, Inc. and decrease the amount and timeframe. The third item was to award the contract to Chicago Bridge & Iron for the new roof, which was passed.
What's next
The board passed all three items at Wednesday's meeting. The cost of the design-build is $480,000. The Chicago Bridge & Iron Company will begin the process of designing and constructing the new roof structure. The tentative end date for the project is late summer 2011.
by Eleni Demertzis, edemertzis@Mysuburbanlife.com
