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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Ian Wade, Capital Projects Manager
DATE: February 9, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the execution of an Engineering Services contract with Thomas Engineering Group, LLC of Aurora in an amount not to exceed $168,890 to design a sound wall to replace the existing wooden fence along Orchard Road.
PURPOSE:
To authorize the execution of an Engineering Services contract with Thomas Engineering Group, LLC of Aurora in an amount not to exceed $168,890 to design a sound wall to replace the existing wooden fence along Orchard Road.
BACKGROUND:
On November 10, 1992, the City and Kane County entered into an Amended Memorandum of Agreement concerning joint construction of the Kane County Highway No. 83 (Orchard Road). This agreement, which superseded "certain Agreements pertaining to this subject dated January 15, 1974 and April 15, 1985" and is attached as "Exhibit A", was approved by the City of Aurora via Resolution R92-499 on December 1, 1992.
As part of the widening of Orchard Road in 2004, the County, at the City's request, included the construction of approximately 63,300 square feet of wooden privacy fence at various locations between Indian Trail and Prairie Street as shown on the attached map ("Exhibit B"). The City has been responsible for ongoing maintenance of the fence as required per the 1992 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), making annual repairs including the replacement of broken and/or deteriorated planks and posts. Both the City and County, however, believe that those repairs are no longer sufficient, as continued normal wear and tear and natural deterioration have caused the fence to approach the end of its useful and serviceable life. Considering the recurring maintenance and safety concerns with the wooden fence and considerably increased noise levels in the corridor which have generated persistent complaints from adjacent residences, the City is looking to design a replacement for the wall which demon...
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