The Oak Park Elementary School District 97’s Board of Education has given the green light for the Village of Oak Park to install an emergency generator at the North Pumping Station situated on Hatch Elementary School grounds. The board’s unanimous decision came during its meeting on August 13, with the construction slated to commence in 2025. The Village of Oak Park will bear the financial responsibility for the project.
The North Pumping Station, an underground facility for drinking water storage and pumping, is located at Ridgeland Avenue and Berkshire Street, adjacent to the Hatch playground and the baseball fields. John Pahlman, Senior Director of Buildings and Grounds at D97, emphasized that the generator is a crucial addition for enhancing the safety of Oak Park residents.
Bill McKenna, Assistant Director of the Public Works Department and Village Engineer for Oak Park, recounted that an agreement between the Village and the school district for the installation and operation of the reservoir and pumping station was initially made in December 1961. McKenna’s request, submitted via email on August 8, included minutes from the December 11, 1961, board meeting which documented the original approval. However, neither D97 nor the Village has been able to locate the original agreement.
“We aim to revisit and formalize the agreement with the school district to ensure clear terms for the future management of the reservoir and pump station,” McKenna stated.
Illinois law mandates that community water supplies have emergency standby power for pump stations to ensure continued water supply during outages, as outlined in the Illinois Administrative Code Title 35, Part 604, Subpart A, Section 604.155. To meet this regulation, the Village has planned the North Pumping Station Generator Addition Project, which will place the emergency generator on the southeast side of the station.
The Village began soliciting bids in May 2024, selecting Connelly Electric Co. for the job at a cost of $420,000. The Village will cover all expenses for the project.
McKenna noted that a contract has yet to be signed, pending the board’s approval. Once completed, the Village will manage the new facilities, including the generator, new fencing, the grounds within the fenced area, and a new sidewalk along the south side of the existing pump station. D97 will be listed as an additional insured party as per the contract requirements.
Construction is projected to begin in Spring 2025, with minimal disruption anticipated. “There will be some traffic from equipment and cement pouring, but overall, it will be a low-impact process,” Pahlman assured, describing the work as routine.
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