Joliet City Council Approves $41 Million Water Tank Project, Double Original Estimate
The Joliet City Council has approved a $41 million bid for the construction of four new water tanks, a cost that is double the initial estimate and represents a $20 million difference. The contract was awarded to Fisher Tank Co., which submitted a bid of just over $41 million, narrowly beating Chicago Bridge & Iron's bid of $41.8 million. The unanimous vote followed discussions in previous meetings where officials addressed the significant cost discrepancy. According to Utilities Director Allison Swisher, the original estimate was flawed because it did not account for the city's specific project requirements, including an additional 250,000 pounds of steel. Councilman Larry Hug, who chairs the Public Service Committee, noted that the issue was with the estimate, not the competitive bids. These tanks are crucial for Joliet's plan to begin using Lake Michigan water by 2030, providing a two-day reserve in case of pipeline disruptions. The tanks will be situated at Black and County Line roads, on Washington St...
