ROCHELLE — At its meeting Monday, the Rochelle City Council unanimously approved an ordinance accepting a bid from Larson & Larson Builders for a $251,950 Rochelle Police Department locker room improvement project.

RPD recently contracted with Willett, Hofmann & Associates for design services to update the basement locker room located at City Hall to include hot showers, male and female changing facilities and locker room updates. Renovation of the area has not been done since RPD moved into the facility. Larson & Larson Builders submitted the low bid of three.

The project's budget now consists of $218,500 for construction, $22,500 for professional fees; and a contingency amount of $10,950.

RPD Chief Pete Pavia said Monday that the facility's current state doesn't have hot water or a dedicated area for female officers.

"We've done some updating to the gym down there and people have a workout and can't even have a hot shower afterwards," Pavia said. "We have nothing for female officers at all. This would give us male and female lockers. Currently we have 18 total smaller lockers. These new ones would be wardrobe lockers and we'd have 10 female lockers and 30 male lockers."

4th Avenue

The council unanimously approved a resolution to spend $18,500 for work on walls that have been exposed by the recent demolition of a building the city owned at 517 W. 4th Ave. The property was formerly Vinny's Barbershop and was demolished due to it being condemned.

As a result of the demolition the east side of the building at 519 W. 4th Ave., and the west side of the building at 513 W. 4th Ave. have become exposed and created "an unfinished, less-aesthetically pleasing appearance." Those businesses are Midwest Physical Therapy, Inc., and Midwestern Clothing Company, LLC.

The city will pay for power washing and painting or if needed due to the condition of the wall, installing metal siding on the east side of 519 W. 4th Ave.; and power washing and painting the west side of 513 W. 4th Ave. to improve the appearance of both buildings.

For the space's future, the city is considering a potential urban park that it recently discussed a concept plan for. The concept plan includes a seat wall, native plantings and an asphalt area for a potential food truck or vendor space. A potential mural may be included in the plan.

Water main

The council unanimously approved a resolution to waive competitive bidding and hire Queens Trucking and Construction Inc. for the installation of a water main at the fire training facility it jointly owns with the Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District.

The new fire training facility is in need of a water main from the corner of South Main Street and Veterans Parkway installed to the facility at a length of approximately 1,100 feet. Queens Trucking submitted the low bid of $52,130. The city will purchase the water main directly to avoid any markups from the contractor. Costs for the project will be split with the OLFPD. 

Budget award

Chris Cardott and Mark Boehm of the city's finance department were recognized Monday for the city's recent receipt of the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Award for the fifth straight year.

"I think it's amazing what a great job they do and it just goes to show the amount of transparency we have in the finance department," City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said. "People can understand our budget and how their money is being spent. We're in great shape financially and that's another reason we received this award."