Farmington OKs bid for rebuild of Oak Street

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

FARMINGTON – A rough piece of road in Farmington will get smoothed over this summer.
The Farmington City Council on Monday accepted a $313,727 bid from C&G Concrete Construction of East Peoria for a complete rebuild of Oak Street.

The bid was lowest of two received and was 14.2% below the original engineer’s estimate of $365,242.50. Laverdiere Construction Inc. of Macomb had the other bid, $332,727.18.

Farmington will use Motor Fuel Tax money to pay for the project, which should start soon.
“They’re ready to go,” Farmington Mayor Kenn Stufflebeam said after signing bid documents following the meeting.

The board also voted in favor of financing for reconstruction of another sort at Monday’s meeting. Approved unanimously was the ordinance setting aside $25,000 for homeowner redevelopment grants outside of Farmington’s TIF district.

Started under former mayor Kent Kowal, the grant program pays up to $2,500 for first-time applicants seeking to redevelop their property. The grant limit is reduced to $1,000 after the first successful application.
The council approved ordinances for commercial facade grants and for in-TIF homeowner redevelopment grants earlier this year.

“The rehab grants have made a lot of properties be more energy efficient with new windows as well as having better curb appeal,” Stufflebeam said. “We have helped replace crumbling sidewalks, broken garage doors and entry doors. It is great the city can partner with homeowners to improve properties.”

The board also approved $1,000 in-TIF payments recommended by the CEDC for Anthony Severine to replace some doors and for Ted Arndy to take down a tree at his property.

The other ordinance approved Monday was to give Dana Cardenas 90 additional days to complete work on the former Senior Center building at 88 E. Fort St.

The council OK’d the city working with Masonic Lodge 192 and the First Presbyterian Church of Farmington in coordinating a July 4 parade and after party. The city’s role is to include the event under its insurance policy to save the lodge $400.

Council Member Lelsye Smith reported that signups have gone very well for the summer recreation program scheduled to start June 9.

Resident Matt Ulm also suggested the city have the Illinois Department of Transportation restripe traffic markings on Lightfoot Road.