The Homewood Village Board of Directors approved a $388,600 contract with engineering firm Burns & McDonnell for construction management services related to the village's main utility line replacement project through 2026 at its Oct. 28 meeting.
The replacement project, commissioned by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), is expected to cost the village approximately $70 million over the next decade. The long-term project has a completion date of 2037. It builds on previous design work by Burns & McDonnell that was approved by the board earlier this year.
According to Assistant Village Administrator Terence Acquah, the construction agreement stipulates that Burns & McDonnell will be responsible for managing two functions – construction administration and resident project advocacy. The first task will cost the village $20,044, the second $368,556, for a total of $388,600, he said.
These responsibilities include managing the day-to-day monitoring of construction activities and ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements. The company will also provide documentation and data management for the village's service line inventory and coordinate with residents on property access and project updates, Acquah said.
Funding for the contract comes from a budget amendment to the Water and Sewer Fund and is reimbursed through the IEPA State Revolving Loan Fund. The IEPA 2026 intended use plan called for $4.1 million for the project, including $2.46 million in capital forgiveness, he said.
Acquah said the village plans to replace at least 235 main service lines in 2026. The project is expected to begin in March. The contractor has 275 days to near completion by the end of October, he said.