Yorkville set to approve Rob Roy sewer contract

YORKVILLE - The City Council will likely decide tonight on a nearly $1 million contract for work on the Rob Roy Creek Interceptor project.

The council had delayed action on the proposal to get more information about the kind of pipe to be used in the project.

The Rob Roy Creek Interceptor project, a joint project with the Yorkville-Bristol Sanitary District, will serve rapidly growing areas on the city's west and north sides.

The council last week reached a consensus to use fiberglass pipe supplied by Hobas Pipe U.S.A., a move that will save about $24,650 compared to the alternative PVC material.

Alderman will vote on the contract at tonight's meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 800 Game Farm Road.

The council requested a report by the sanitary district's conculting engineer after a pipe supplier for the contractor had questioned why his firm's alternate bid was passed over, despite being the low bid.

Philippe Moreau of the engineering firm of Walter E. Deuchler and Associates said the firm had recommended the use of PVC pipe for the project because most of the sanitary district's existing pipes are made of that material.

In response to a question from alderman, Moreau said the alternate fiberglass product would work.

"The pipe will meet the specs, but it will require a lot of vigilance on our part to make sure it is installed properly," Moreau said. "Again, the pipe is OK, it is just the installation that concerns us."

Moreau stated that because of the abundance of water, it will be difficult to keep the bottom of the trench from caving in and because PVC is more flexible, it has some benefits over a more rigid pipe. He said the fiberglass product would have to be carefully installed.

"So, be very careful," Alderman Richard Sticka replied.

Vince Paparozzi, area sales manager for Hobas, said his company's fiberglass product has a proven track record in difficult applications and said he is pleased the city took another look at the bids.

"We're looking forward to doing a great job," Paparozzi said.

Hobas is supplying some 8,450 feet of pipe for the Montgomery-Sugar Grove Interceptor, a project of the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District. The company previously supplied pipe for Fox Metro's Oswego Interceptor project, and its pipe has been used extensively in Decatur.

City Administrator Tony Graff said the city needs to approve the bid and get the work started soon. The city has an easement with the Polish National Alliance camp as well as annexation agreements with developers who will help fund the project, Graff said.

One developer - Ocean Atlantic, which has a project at Galena Road and Route 47 - is putting some $700,000 up front for the project.

"We can't afford delays in this job," Graff said.