Hinsdale High Schools Plan Work On Tracks And Tennis Courts

HINSDALE, IL — The Hinsdale High School District plans improvements to the tracks and tennis courts at both Central and South high schools. Last month, the school board chose the companies to handle the projects, which are part of the $139 million bond referendum voters approved last April.

The board picked the sole bidders for the track and tennis court work. Elburn-based Track Surfaces Co. will put in new surfaces for both schools' tracks, which will cost the district $302,000. And Lockport-based U.S. Tennis Court Construction will handle the courts for $168,000.

Board members said the reason they had only one bidder for those projects was that the work is highly specialized. Pepper Construction, which is overseeing the projects, recommended the two companies.

The board also approved Justice-based F&G Roofing for $3.4 million in roofing for Central and South — more than 60 percent of which will be spent at South. F&G beat four competitors by a lot. The next lowest was Arlington Heights-based Riddiford Roofing, which bid a half million higher. The highest bidder was Romeoville-based Bennett & Brosseau at $4.6 million.

School board member Kevin Camden said Pepper Construction was satisfied with the explanation about why the bid was so low. The company was able to lock down its work crew at the schools for the entire summer.

For work on the schools' heating and air conditioning systems, Romeoville-based Mechanical Concepts of Illinois was chosen. It was the low bidder at $324,000, far below the next lowest bidder, Woodstock-based MG Mechanical, which bid at $476,000. Eight companies bid.