Ottawa opens bidding on Route 71 water main project

The Ottawa City Council opened bidding on the Route 71 sewer project after approving $5 million in bonds to fund the project.

Commissioner Tom Ganiere said the council opened two separate biddings between directional drilling and the rest of the project in hopes of getting more bidders in an attempt to lower the price.

The Council committed $45,000 in conjunction with a Rebuild Illinois Grant back in June to extend water main service to an industrial and commercial area at the intersection of Route 71 and Interstate 80, covering the length of a tax increment financing district established in July 2018.

The proposed TIF was sparked by the need for a sewer line to the city by the Road Ranger and Shell gas stations north of Interstate 80. That sewer line along Route 71 and under Interstate 80 opened up the possibilities for the corridor’s development.

Additionally, Ottawa’s council finalized Tuesday its acceptance of $250,000 grant money from Illinois Housing Development that aids in getting unlivable or abandoned homes torn down or rehabilitated.

In other items, the council:

• Approved a lease for an older fire engine for use while another gets sent in for routine maintenance and repairs.

• Approved updated equipment for squad cars in order to adjust to changes to Ford’s vehicle interior.

• Appointed Jeff Bangert to police captain of the Ottawa Police Department.