BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge went out to bid for its new Village Hall last month, drawing "significant" interest from contractors, an official said Monday.
The bid opening had been set for Sept. 2. Because of the interest, the village is extending the deadline by two weeks.
"We've had four companies already ask for additional time," Village Administrator Evan Walter said at Monday's Village Board meeting. "So we want to give them all the time necessary to make sure they have an opportunity to submit a bid. The more bids we get, the better we'll do as a village."
The village's pre-bid meeting attracted a standing-room-only crowd to the police station's training room.
"I think it's a great project to have Burr Ridge on your resume," Walter said. "Companies appear to be motivated in putting in bids."
Next month, the board plans to vote on hiring Miami-based Consertus to serve as the village's representative in the project. The company would send an expert to manage bidding and construction.
"They've already provided a lot of value during the pre-bid process," Walter said.
Mayor Gary Grasso said his experience with such a manager is that the person saves the owner money and makes sure the project is done right and within budget.
"They are going to be our eyes and ears on the site," he said.
Last fall, the Goddard preschool chain agreed to buy the 40-year-old Village Hall for $2.7 million.
Goddard plans to enroll 120 to 180 children and employ 20 to 30 staff, according to village documents.
The new Village Hall will be attached to the next-door police station, which was built 16 years ago. Officials said their plan ensures the village offices will blend into the station, so that it doesn't look like an addition.
The new village offices are estimated to cost $7.5 million. The village said the project requires no debt.
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