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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Ian Wade, Capital Projects Manager
DATE: November 9, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to execute a change order to the contract with Semper Fi Landscaping, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $648,000.00 for the Mastodon Lake Dredging project.
PURPOSE:
To cover the cost of a change to the quantity of dried, dredged material to be hauled from the dewatering area at Mastodon Lake.
BACKGROUND:
To properly address the accumulation of sediment and vegetation in Mastodon Lake, the City recently requested bids to perform hydraulic dredging of the lake. Bids were opened on April 1, 2026 and Semper Fi was found to be the lowest responsible bidder in the amount of $4,600,000, which included a base bid of $4,400,000 and $200,000 in contingency funds. (R26-138)
Among the line-item prices received in the bid was a cost per cubic yard to haul the dredged and dried material from its dewatering location near the lake to its final location of disposal or reuse. At the time of the publication of the Invitation to Bid, which had been delayed, canceled, and rebid to accommodate numerous changes to the scope resulting from feedback received from dredging contractors, the City and their consultant, HR Green, were hopeful that much of the estimated 30,000 cubic yards of dried material could ultimately remain at the dewatering location, which would eliminate the need to haul the entire amount. As a result, while the Invitiation to Bid did request pricing to regrade (spread out and compact) 30,000 cubic yards, it only requested pricing to haul 10,000 cubic yards.
Unfortunately, since the time of contract award, it was determined that the dewatering location which was selected could not accept any material due to restrictions related to adjacent lowland drainage and utilization of the property by East Aurora High School. As a result, we are requesting authorization to add an additional 20,000 cubic yards to the scope of hauling in the contract with Semper Fi.
To soften the financial impact of this shift in scope, Semper Fi has agreed to reduce their unit price for the additional 20,000 cubic yards by 10%, resulting in a savings of $72,000 for the City.
DISCUSSION:
This project was included in the 2026 Capital budget as part of CIP B049 and the additional $648,000 being requested will be funded using account 280-1852-512.81-90, which has a current balance of $103,691.01 and will require a budget transfer of $328,900 from the following accounts: 280-1852-512.38-71 ($40,000), 280-1852-512.45-32 ($19,900), 280-1852-512.53-29 ($10,000), 280-1852-512.81-01 ($75,000), 280-1852-512.81-31 ($34,000), and 280-1852-512.81-23 ($150,000). In addition to the $432,591.01 that will be available upon completion of the transfer, the required balance ($215,408.99) will be paid using the remaining contingency funds included in the contract (currently $200,000) and 2027 funds in account 280-1852-512,81-90 ($350,000 budgeted).
$4,000,000 of the $5,248,000 in updated costs for this project will be reimbursed through a grant from DCEO.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The inability to haul the material away from its dewatering location would result in considerable flooding and inability for the land to be returned to its previous usage by East Aurora High School.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request the proposed resolution be adopted
cc: Infrastructure & Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to execute a change order to the contract with Semper Fi Landscaping, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $648,000.00 for the Mastodon Lake Dredging project.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, a bid request was published for Dredging at Mastodon Lake and Semper Fi was found to be the lowest responsible bidder (R26-138); and
WHEREAS, since the time of contract award, it was determined that the dewatering location which was selected could not accept any material, resulting in the need to add an additional 20,000 cubic yards of hauling to the contracted scope (at a cost of $648,000); and
WHEREAS, the additional $648,000 requested will be funded using account 280-1852-512.81-90 (CIP B049), which has a current balance of $103,691.01 and will require a budget transfer of $328,900 from various accounts, with $215,408.99 to be paid using the remaining contingency funds included in the contract (currently $200,000) and the 2027 funds in account 280-1852-512.81-90 ($350,000 budgeted); and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the Director of Purchasing is authorized to execute a change order to the contract with Semper Fi Landscaping, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $648,000.00 for the Mastodon Lake Dredging project.