Hinsdale Likely To Miss July 4 Pavilion Deadline

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale officials indicated Tuesday that the village may well miss a July 4 deadline for a Burlington Park pavilion.

"We're not going to let speed get in the way of a quality product," Village President Greg Hart said at a Village Board meeting.

The village received two bids for the project, but only one was considered compliant. That was the low bidder, Roselle-based LZ Design Build Group, at $405,000, higher than the $350,000 budget.

At the meeting, Trustee Luke Stifflear said the village may have received few bids because of the tight timeline. He suggested the village offer a longer timeline and see whether prices go down.

Hart agreed.

"I think that's smart," he said. "I think we should."

Trustee Scott Banke said he did not want to politicize the matter, but he said the bidders' higher-than-expected prices may reflect world events.

"I don't see how the numbers come back in line based on what I'm seeing in the world at large," he said.

The board voted unanimously to reject the two bids and authorize the village's staff to negotiate with LZ and "other potential interested parties."

Village Manager Kathleen Gargono told the board that the staff planned to speak with LZ and four other contractors next week.

The village had originally hoped to get the project done by the nation's 250th birthday, which is July 4.

Now, officials say they could schedule the groundbreaking ceremony for that day.

The village has received three major pledged donations – $175,000 from Hinsdale Hospital, $100,000 from the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce and $25,000 from Hinsdale Bank and Trust. The total is $300,000.

Designed by local architect Michael Abraham, the pavilion is expected to reflect the historic character of the next-door Memorial Building, which houses village offices and the public library.