Lake Bluff residents might see their water tower go offline for about five weeks this fall, and the Village Board takes its next step toward that work Monday, Aug. 24, when trustees vote on a construction engineering services agreement with Dixon Engineering, Inc.

The vote, listed as Item 12 on the Aug. 24 meeting agenda, would authorize Dixon to oversee the rehabilitation project during construction. The board meets at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 40 E. Center Ave.

$598,920 construction contract already in place

The engineering agreement is the final professional-services piece of a project the board has been assembling since Jan. 27, 2025, when trustees approved a design engineering contract with Baxter & Woodman Inc.

On May 11, the board awarded the construction contract itself to Era-Valdivia Contractors, Inc. of Chicago at $598,920, the lowest of four bids received. That work includes exterior and interior painting of the elevated water storage tank, installation of a chlorine analyzer and a calibration vault.

The tower was last painted in 2012.

Village Engineer Jeff Hansen shared that detail with trustees at the May 11 meeting. He and Village Administrator R. Drew Irvin estimated the rehabilitation would take approximately five weeks.

What residents should expect

During construction, planned to begin in September, Lake Bluff will receive water through interconnects with the City of Lake Forest. The village's FY2027 budget includes sufficient funds for the project.

Dixon Engineering, headquartered in Lake Odessa, Michigan, was founded in 1981 and specializes in coating and rehabilitation of water storage tanks. The contract value for Dixon's construction engineering role has not been publicly released ahead of Monday's vote.

How to participate

The Monday meeting also includes an informational report from Village Administrator Irvin on the village's Capital Improvement Plan.

Residents can attend in person, watch the livestream at lakebluff.org/channel19 or on public access channel 19, join online at lakebluff.org/VirtualMeeting, or dial in at (312) 626-6799 (meeting ID 849 3250 5127).