Union Faults La Grange Water Tower Paint Job

LA GRANGE, IL – The Chicago area's painters union warned La Grange two years ago against using an out-of-state firm to paint outside and inside a local water tower.

By a 4-1 vote, the Village Board in 2021 went against that advice and approved Seven Brothers Painting of Shelby Township, Michigan.

On Monday, a representative of Painters District Council No. 14 noted an engineer's inspection found a problem with the interior painting that would hurt water quality in the long run.

"As time passes, the severity of the paint failure will only get worse as well as the integrity of the drinking water," said Alfredo Barraza, the union's director of organizing. "Paint helps against corrosion. This is no longer the case in the tank."

He encouraged the board to enact a "responsible bidder" ordinance, which he said would ensure contractors have the necessary qualifications.

In response, Rick Colby, the village's public works director, said he appreciated the union for bringing the matter forward.

"This is something very much on the radar for the staff at public works," Colby said.

He confirmed the inspection, which occurred a year after the work, turned up the problem. The tower job, he said, was still under warranty and that the company would fix the problem without any extra cost for La Grange.

"We share the same concern," Colby said. "We understand the specifics of this project as well as the need to have sound labor partners moving forward as well."

The flawed work, Colby said, is not impacting water quality in the "immediate term."

In an interview Tuesday, Sam Vushaj, one of the Seven Brothers' owners, said his company had offered to return last spring to do the work. But he said the village didn't want to put the tank out of service at that time.

"It's on us to do it," he said. "We're just waiting on them."

In 2021, the painters union asked the village to bypass Seven Brothers, which, at $568,000, was the lower bidder.

The union questioned how the company could offer such a low price when it needed to pay for hotel rooms. It said La Grange should go with an Illinois company.

Trustee Lou Gale, who cast the only dissenting vote, said the village should choose the next highest bidder, which was a Wauconda company that came in less than 5 percent more. He said Illinois benefits when public bodies select in-state firms.

The tower in question is on Tilden Avenue next to Gordon Park. It is about 30 years old and, before the latest job, was last painted in 2004, according to village documents.