Board Approves $1.2 Million Payout for Road Construction and New Park Accessibility Lift

Village of Monee Board Meeting | August 27, 2025

Article Summary:
The Monee Village Board authorized a payment of over $1.2 million for the ongoing reconstruction of Industrial Drive and Cleveland Avenue. Additionally, the board approved a change order to install a new wheelchair lift at Firemen’s Park after deeming a ramp unfeasible.

Infrastructure and Parks Key Points:

• Road Construction: A payout of $1,247,015.72 was approved for Iroquois Paving Corporation for the Industrial Drive/Cleveland Avenue reconstruction.

• Park Accessibility: A $40,228 change order was approved to install a Garaventa vertical wheelchair lift at the Firemen’s Park Creamery building.

• Ramp Rejected: A ramp was considered but rejected because ADA slope requirements would have extended the ramp too far into the parking lot.

• Project Progress: The public works building is on schedule to open in September.

The Monee Village Board on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, moved forward with major infrastructure payments and accessibility upgrades for village facilities.

The largest expenditure was a $1,247,015.72 payment to Iroquois Paving Corporation for Pay Request #3 regarding the Industrial Drive and Cleveland Avenue Road Reconstruction Project. Administrator Ruben Bautista noted that the project is located within TIF District 5 and that the new road, curb, and gutter are progressing well.

“In fact today I had a chance to take a look at it and it looks awesome,” Bautista said.

In a separate matter regarding Firemen’s Park, the board addressed ADA accessibility at the Creamery Building. After reviewing options with architects and the Monee Historical Society, staff recommended installing a new wheelchair lift rather than constructing a ramp.

Bautista explained that a ramp would require a specific grade (one inch of rise for every foot of length), which would result in the ramp extending nearly into the parking lot. Consequently, the board approved a change order of $40,228 to purchase and install a new wheelchair lift.

Trustee Charles Rakis expressed frustration that the issue wasn’t resolved earlier in the project planning. “I just feel somewhere the ball was dropped. But I’m glad that we’re getting it rectified,” Rakis said.

Billy Morgan of the Monee Historical Society thanked the board for the decision during public comment. “This is going to change our lives… to make this building accessible to everybody all the time,” Morgan said.