Kendall County officials still in talks with construction firm over Millbrook Bridge demolition

Kendall County Board members, acting in their dual role as county forest preserve district commissioners, hinted at possible concessions this week from “D” Construction, Inc., the firm that oversaw the unplanned collapse of the Millbrook Bridge last year yet still invoiced the district for the full amount of the project.

District President Dave Guritz said more meetings were necessary with the Coal City construction company before a final settlement can be reached on the $285,000 invoice. Officials have said “D” Construction’s original price tag for the bridge demolition has not changed despite the discrepancy in actual man hours compared to the original contract.

Guritz added the company is willing to revoke an extra $7,352 invoice for a pier that was unexpectedly damaged during the bridge’s demolition.

“Which is good,” Guritz told county board members during a meeting Tuesday, June 1 in Yorkville. “That’s what we expected.”

The historic Millbrook Bridge, which spanned the Fox River at the Shuh Shuh Gah Canoe Launch near Newark, met a haphazard demise last August as “D” Construction worked on performing a controlled demolition of the structure.

County Board Vice Chairan Matt Kellogg has said the company placed ten times the recommended weight on the bridge, causing it to buckle. Workers performed an emergency demolition of the bridge on the spot, leaving 15 pieces of the structure to float down the river.

Guritz expects the district not to occur any penalties from the project’s invoice, which has gone unpaid for months.

“There seems to be some room to negotiate,” he said, adding that the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office is reviewing the matter. “We hope to bring back an acceptable proposal.”