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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Ian Wade, Capital Projects Manager
DATE: October 16, 2025
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the city to accept a grant award in the amount of $4,000,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration project.
PURPOSE:
To improve water quality in Mastodon Lake, improve shoreline aesthetics, and make the shoreline less susceptible to erosion.
BACKGROUND:
Mastodon Lake was excavated in the 1930s during the construction of Phillips Park. Over the years, sediment and decaying organic matter have accumulated at the bottom of the Lake to an average depth of nearly 2 feet. The average water depth throughout the Lake is now less than 2.5 feet. Such a shallow aquatic system is susceptible to warming, excessive nutrients, and becoming overrun with algae and other aquatic vegetation. These conditions are unsightly and limit recreational opportunities such as boating and fishing. In recent years, the City has used herbicide to control the growth of aquatic vegetation and has vacuumed the sediment near the intake for the Phillips Park Golf Course's irrigation system, but these are not long-term solutions to the problem.
In 2023, $4,000,000 was reappropriated from the Build Illinois Bond Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for a grant to the City of Aurora for costs associated with "the rehabilitation project at Mastodon Lake at Phillips Park" (see attached Legislation). Following several years of project refinement, document submittal, and agreement drafting and review by the State of Illinois, the attached funding agreement was provided to the City for execution.
DISCUSSION:
Based on the attached design plans and cost estimate prepared by HR Greene, $5,045,000 was included in the 2025 City Budget for this project and has been requested to be carried over to 2026. This amount, which will be funded using account 280-1852-512.81-90 (CIP B049), includes the estimated project cost of $4,545,000 ($4M of which will be reimbursed through this grant with revenue account 280-1852-334.30-02) plus an additional $500,000 to account for any cost escalation and potential bid variance.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Fishing and boating opportunities will be limited during dredging operations. Also, several small parking lots and areas around Mastodon Lake may be used for dewatering dredged material, making them unavailable throughout the duration of the project, which should occur in 2026.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request the proposed resolution be adopted.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution to accept a grant award in the amount of $4,000,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration 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, sediment and decaying organic matter on the bottom of Mastodon Lake have begun to impair the health and recreational use of the lake; and
WHEREAS, the city was awarded a grant in the amount of $4,000,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and
WHEREAS, the reimbursed revenue account will be 280-1852-334.30-02 for the $4,000,000.00; and
WHEREAS, $5,045,000 was included in the 2025 City Budget and will be funded using account 280-1852-512.81-90 (CIP B049); and)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the City is authorized to accept a grant award in the amount of $4,000,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the Mastodon Lake Dredging and Shoreline Restoration project.