Renovation of facility almost finished

LAKE IN THE HILLS – The renovation of the village’s public works building on Haligus Road almost is complete.

Village officials last year awarded the public works department about $2.8 million to renovate and expand the building at 9010 Haligus Road.

The building, which nearly was 22,000 square feet, since has had two additions: a 2,500-square-foot office addition and an 15,600-square-foot warehouse addition.

Village Manager Gerald Sagona said population growth in Lake in the Hills demanded that the public works building become bigger.

“Several years ago, we did a space-needs analysis for the [village] buildings,” he said. “One item that appeared was the inadequate storage for our fleet [of public works vehicles].”

In addition to expanding the public works building, a partial renovation of the facility took place this year.

Several additional projects are awaiting approval by the Village Board.

Public Works Director Fred Mullard said that the public works department was requesting board members to approve the installation of a storm sewer and trash-bin enclosures, as well as an asphalt-replacement project.

Recommended bids for the additional projects total $85,375.

Construction management company Lamp, Inc., of Elgin, would receive no more $25,160 to oversee the projects, should they be approved, according to village documents.

Mullard said expansion and renovation improvements benefited the 43 public works employees.

“They feel better equipped to do their job,” he said. “It’s been a great boon to the productivity of the staff.”

Officials expect that the public works projects will be completed by the end of October.

At least $50,000 would be returned to the village after the projects were finished, Mullard said.