The City of Joliet approved a labor-management project agreement with Will and Grundy counties’ Building Trades Council union and members of the Three Rivers Construction Alliance to construct pipelines bringing water supply to the city from Lake Michigan at Tuesday council meeting.
The Joliet City Council in 2022 approved a $87 million bond issue, which is a portion of the projected $592 million to $810 million project. The City of Joliet will share the costs with members of the Regional Water Commission that also includes the communities of Romeoville, Crest Hill, Shorewood, Channahon and Minooka. Following Joliet, Romeoville would consume the next largest water user in the commission.
The City of Joliet’s existing water source will no longer be sustainable by 2030 if the current water usage does not change. The goal is to provide the city with Lake Michigan water by 2030. New infrastructure will be built near the existing Chicago Southwest Pumping Station, and it will be owned, operated, maintained and overseen by the water commission.
Joliet in January 2021 approved an agreement with the City of Chicago to bring Lake Michigan water via pipeline to Joliet, which is about 33 miles.
The water main replacement is necessary because the cities that use Lake Michigan water are required to have a water loss rate of less than 10 percent. Mains that are old typically causes leaks and water losses, according to city officials. According to City reports Joliet loses about a third of its water produced in the well system yearly.
The union will work with the city to construct several projects as part of the alternative water source program, including Joliet water distribution system improvements; a pump station on Stryker Avenue and Ridge Road; and an upgrade at the pump station on Ingalls Avenue.
In other city news, the council by a vote of 6-3 approved a professional services agreement with Raftelis, a consulting firm, for a citywide service level and staffing study at a cost of $156,500.
Councilman Larry Hug, who represents District 1, said the city did a similar study for police, fire and public works’ employees several years ago. But he is not willing to support the measure at this time and asked for his colleagues to table the proposal.
“There are too many new jobs being added,” said Hug. Joining him in voting against the contract were Jan Quillman and Juan Moreno.
But City Manager Beth Beatty said this agreement is needed because Joliet has not done a study like this for a long time to improve efficiency.
“It is a data-based study,” she said. “That is why we need to hire experts, and it is the best way to serve our community. City services are number one priority for our residents.”
Pat Mudron, who represents District 2, said the council is only approving the study at this time and not hiring additional employees.
Mayor Terry D’Arcy said the study would pinpoint where additional employees are needed to trim overtime expenses.
“Our payroll is $97 million per year, and our overtime is $12 million per year,” he said. “As a businessperson, a taxpayer and mayor, we need to look at it.”
The council Tuesday also accepted the 2025 Powering the Holidays grant from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus in partnership with ComEd for $2,500 that will be used to promote the holiday season at City Square. The grant will be used for the purchase and installation of holiday lights for the Christmas season in the downtown section of Joliet.
