Streit: 'There Was No Collusion' To Award Village Contract to Brother's Firm
Village is likely to rescind bid awarded to company to replace the Oak Lawn public works' facility roof because bid specifications were not clear.
A bid to replace the leaking roof at the Oak Lawn Public Works streets and sewer facility at 98th Street and Central Avenue is likely to be rescinded after questions arose about ambiguous bid specifications.
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The Oak Lawn Village Board voted 4 to 3 to award a $166,085 contract to Adler Roofing of Joliet at the Nov. 27 village board meeting—even though Adler was not the lowest bidder.
Seven roofing companies submitted bids to the village in response to a request for proposals. Adler was the fourth lowest bidder, whose alternate bid of $166,085 was $4,909 more than the lowest bidder, DCG Roofing Solutions of Des Plaines, which bid $161,175.
DCG also submitted an alternate bid that was $9,800 less than its original bid, offering to switch out materials. The alternate bid was still less than Adler's bid, village documents show.
After the mayor cast the tiebreaking "yes" vote on the consent agenda, village manager Larry Deetjen leaned over and whispered in his ear.
Mayor Dave Heilmann asked the village attorney if the vote for the roofing contract required a “supermajority.”
“The village manager brought something to my attention,” Heilmann said. “If for some reason that needs to be revisited, just let all the board know. I wasn’t aware of the issue related to roof replacement. Obviously there was a disagreement here.”
Village attorney Paul O’Grady explained that only two companies provided a schedule that was specified in the bid specifications. Any deviations from the language in a bid, such as providing information that was not requested or not providing information specified in the bid, are grounds for rejecting a bid, even if it is the lowest.
“The first two bidders currently did not provide a schedule, which was part of the specifications, so they technically didn’t comply,” O’Grady said. “It was a material deviation we were told.”
One question that arose was an Oak Lawn trustee's familial ties to Adler Roofing, a company that has been around for more than a century.
“My brother works at the firm,” Trustee Bob Streit (Dist. 3) said after the meeting.
The Oak Lawn trustee’s brother, Mike Streit, is an estimator for Adler and has no ownership in the company.
Adler has done other work for the village and contributed $2,925 to Streit's campaign coffers between 2009 and 2012. The most recent donation of $500 was made on Sept. 27.
“Adler was deemed as the lowest responsible bidder,” Streit said. “Staff made that recommendation. Without explanation, three trustees vote no and don’t say why. It passes 4-3. Next thing Larry Deetjen whispers in the mayor’s ear that it needs a supermajority.”
Deetjen said that the bid specifications, which were written by the public works staff, should have gone for a legal review after speaking to lowest bidder DCG, which was bypassed because it did not specify a starting date.
“My observation was that the specification documents looked to me not to be clear,” the village manager said. “I thought they were ambiguous and didn’t see where it was clearly stipulated with a column or space to put a starting date.”
After speaking with public works staff, Deetjen said, he informed the village attorney that it was in the village’s best interests to rescind the offer. They agreed that an error had been made by not asking the village attorney to review the bid specifications.
“Clearly, in my opinion, the public works teams had not done that extra step that could have eliminated ambiguity,” Deetjen said.
The “ambiguity” in question specified that “contractors' scheduling will have influence on choosing lowest and best bids.”
By state law, municipalities reserve the right to reject or accept any or all bids.
“If one cries foul and the foul is legitimate, than it’s best to start the process over and have clarity,” Deetjen said.
Deetjen said it would go on the next village board agenda that the bidding process would be rebooted in the winter for the spring project.
Streit reiterated that the process was fine and that some trustees didn’t want the firm that his brother worked for to get the job.
"Of course I'd like to see my brother's company do the work," Streit said. "The process was fair and proper. [Adler] has done other jobs in Oak Lawn that trustees have voted for. There was no collusion.”
andy skoundrianos
6:34 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Bob Streit " fair " and "proper " in the same sentence??? You reap what you sow Bob Wonder how long before Dave throws you under the bus ask Myrna Jurcev about that
Neighborhood Guy
11:22 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
andy don't you have to get back to scheming and leeching. After all this disability may not last. What is the disability Mr. Transparency? Sore palm? stupidity? foolishness? blowharditis? Phelansexuality? Unhireability? sore butt?
I hope you feel good about yourself. The Social Security Fund is going bankrupt and you take disability payments that could be going to the one arm man.
Tommy Kramer
8:51 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Oh, Andy! Your public breakup with Trustee Trite (as your new hero Tom called him the other day) is bringing tears to my eyes. Andy, were you alleging in your other post that Brennan and Trite were blogging about Sodaro?
andy skoundrianos
9:54 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Another classic Vike!! You must be a closet Viking fan Dennis/BOB
Andy&SandyXOXOXOXO
9:03 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Andy luvs Sandy
Rich
10:49 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
" Mr. Streit doth protest too much, me thinks."
WEMISSERNIE
11:31 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
Hey Dave and Carol, Thanks for selling out the parish by buddying up with the biggest piece of garbage in Oak Lawn
Hope the deal and new majority are worth all the slime & sleaze Bobby is leaving behind on you.
Next time you are golfing with him ask him if he is ever going to pay us the $ 1,600 dollars he reneged on at the St. Linus Men's Club Smoker??
Not Loggins
8:35 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Shut up Houbolt
erniessleepymemory
11:40 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
The parish has nothing to do with the village Father Dipchit. It sounds like st. catherine's has better smokers in the parking lot. Maybe Andy can find out what happened over there because it sounds like catherines kicks butt on the partying compared to linus.
Sandra Bury
11:51 pm on Monday, December 3, 2012
It’s time for conflicts of interest to be disclosed at the start of each meeting for any agenda item. Complete transparency is attainable and should be the goal of every elected official in Oak Lawn. This outrageous behavior must be stopped and will be stopped. Ethics do matter.
Were those who voted in favor of this completely ignorant of what they were spending $166,085.00 on? Or did they push this through knowing and understanding the conflicted bid process and do it anyway? Both scenarios speak volumes. It will be interesting how they try to spin this shocker in the days ahead.
sandylovesandy
2:21 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Transparency?!?!?! Sandra Bury is asking for transparency?!?!?! Sandra Bury who is buddy buddy with the infamous tphelan......truly I cannot stop laughing.
Sandra Bury
6:23 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
If given the privilege of serving Oak Lawn as Mayor, I will work work as a team with the entire board and we will disclose conflicts of interests at the start of each and every meeting.
The interests of the taxpayers will always come first and decisions will be made on THEIR behalf in the OPEN, Special interests, campaign donors, personal friends who profit, family or other business interests will never come first. It is time for governmental transparency in Oak Lawn.
OakLawnGuy
6:15 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
As long as Dr Bury aligns herself with Messrs Deetjen, Phelan and Olejniczak, there will NEVER be anything resembling transparency on the Board. They played political games in their heyday a couple years ago, now they're being beaten at that game. If they were more effective in political battles, make no mistake, they would be fully engaged.
Sandra Bury
6:28 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
I will work for the taxpayers. Period.
I am not a politician, but an extremely concerned taxpayer, resident and local business owner. I have reached out to every person on that board and will continue to do so. Each and every Trustee knows this.
There are few issues greater in Oak Lawn than the need for transparency and conflicts of interest such as these must be disclosed and stopped.
Neighborhood Guy
7:00 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
When given a chance at transparency the doc put her foot where her mouth is. Instead of admitting that Tphelan wrote the trashy hit piece on the Mayor, she claimed that it was a collaboration. Phelan's name is listed under "properties" as the author. Transparency? Transparency? Come on.
Now we here that Doc has a "worker" who is receiving Social Security Disability while working for her campaign. He won't say what his disability is because transparency is for the other guy. clean up your own backyard Doc!
Oak Lawn Gal
10:10 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Dr Bury the problem is you have Tom Phelan working to get you elected. Favors like that have to be repaid one way or the other. You should have ran as a true independent. If you had been equally critical of the entire board you would have had a better chance of getting elected. And there's still the judgement issue of using Oak Lawn village email addresses to send out the political material authored by tPhelan.
OakLawnGuy
11:21 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
I wondered why, when it broke, Dr Bury did not publicly distance herself from that tPhelan/e mail address thing. It happens every election, at every level: something is leaked, and it could be 100% true or 100% false, but the candidate implicated (subtly or not so subtly) is required to come out and separate himself/herself from the item. Didn't happen with this story.
Oak Lawn Gal
11:41 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
OLGuy I was surprised at that too. But maybe it's because she's a political novice? Also at this stage of the game she may feel she needs Phelan? I really don't know. Of all people to align with he would be the last guy I would have picked.
Abe Froman
1:23 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Ummmmm Sandy?? Your are a politician... You are running for Political Office (rather poorly as well), so you in fact are a politician... So who you crappin?
Frederick Boger
8:18 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
I thought Doc vowed to stay off comments. Another lie of many. This, like fall on green, is just political nonsense. Still voting for Dave. Doc is tied in with oafish thugs. Period.
Jim Wilson
8:23 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Accepting the lowest responsible bidder is standard operating procedure in business and government. Do these three buffoons have to make everything political? I watch every board meeting and it is obvious that Olineczek, Duhig and Phelan stand in they way of good government on every issue.
O.L. Taxpayer
9:21 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Are you out of your mind? Are you watching the Oak Lawn Board Meetings? Bobby Boy is the one causing all of the political BS. How are the three of them standing in the way of good government? If they don't agree with something they are over ruled by the Dopey trustee in Dist. 1, the "Duh, what should I say next Dave?" Trustee of Dist.5, the snake in Dist. 3 and Bozo the Mayor. So is this what you consider good government? Maybe we should spend another $18,500 and audit the Easter on the green. That darn bunny is allowed to hide eggs that the village pays for and no way to account for each one. Hmm I smell an audit brewing.
Abe Froman
1:27 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Sometimes taking the lowest bid can be bad as well? Why was it so low, what kind of material is being used, what kind of workers are working ect ect.. Now maybe not having your brother in the bid process would help but somewhere in between the highest and lowest is best. You get what you pay for,,
Frederick Boger
8:24 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Deetjen making right move here. Rebid. Can't have ambiguity in contracts. Still just political nonsense. Bob should consider abstaining next time.
Fired Up Man
8:43 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Why would Streit abstain? He doesn't own the company. His brother doesn't own the company. Did Phelan abstain when Mike Stillman was appointed as the attorney? Did Aole abstain when they hired his buddy Hickey?
Deetjen is a suckup to Phelan. If everyone bids on the same specs someone loses and someone wins. There isn't ambiguity just plain idiotic behavior by Deetjen and the three stooges.
Rich
9:25 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
If { and I'll admit I don't know the answer } an Oak Lawn roofing company put in a bid, would'nt they be first in line to get some sort of " special " consideration { as a local merchant and taxpayer } ?
anthony
10:08 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
way it works for the car dealers
BeaversFan
10:32 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Defending a crooked practice. blame others,make up fake excuses. Facts are Facts Who do Streit,Heilmann et.all think they are William Beavers?? They are above the rules?? Who is the Hog with the biggest " ones " between Bob and Dave?? Hope they both end up in court with Beavers
Oak Lawn Gal
10:45 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Wonder why Deetjen didn't raise the issue before the vote?
OakLawnGuy
11:19 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The only reason I can figure is he wanted to fire that bullet at the meeting, in a public fashion. He's as much a political being as anyone on the board, with the ego to match.
Oak Lawn Gal
11:37 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Yes good point. Politics again.
RG
2:27 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
I agree. These things should be handled administratively before going to the Board for a vote to approve a bid. It should be on the Agenda, to report to the Board that the bid process was deemed ambiguous and it wil be re-bid.
Quiet Neighbor
11:32 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
So let me get this straight. This is a huge story because the system worked? The manager pointed out some issue, the attorney provided additional info and they do the right thing and now its a jumping off point for more scandal stories. This is such a non-starter. There are probably 40 things that would be cause for picking one company over another as a roof is something that quality over pure cost savings is key. These stories and remarks that the board is bad literally no matter if they do things right, wrong, or indifferently is getting old mainly because it is really just clawing for any hint of impropriety because it is juicy. Had the roof been done and some secret payout or kickback discovered then sure that warrants some spotlight. Procedurally it sounds like they are going to do a redo over the lack of clarity for demanding a schedule and nothing else.
I will say this: Dr. Bury, the moment you mailed negative propaganda to my house regarding sitting officials as well as self proclaiming yourself a political activist here on Patch, you relinquished the right to say "I am not a politician". You called yourself one. Commenting that you would do better than X (a silent "vote for me") is being a politician. You can say it to yourself over and over again but when the ONLY thing you can say is how bad other people are not only are you a politician but, in my opinion, the worst kind.
OakLawnGuy
12:23 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
It's a bigger story than usual because there's an election coming up and because of the political squabbles of the last few years. And as such it's "juicy". I agree about your "non-politician" comment. If you run for political office, you simply can't help but play political games. Her alignment speaks for itself.
Mary Jane
11:54 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Oak Lawn Taxpayer,
I heard Trustee Olejneck say the exact same thing at St. Gerald's. I was so disappointed that he would resort to name calling and I decided that I would never vote for him again.
2nd
12:23 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Why would the bids not have been checked beforehand to make sure they met the bid specifications? Why wait until after the vote to bring up the issue? This is a waste of time all for political show. This is a no-brainer - rebid and NO nepotism allowed, period.
Neighborhood Guy
6:25 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
it sounds like the losers didn't meet the specs and now Deetch, tommy boy and A-OLE are trying to undermine the process. I didn't think you could undo an award of a public bid. Somebody call a municipal lawyer and find out now
James Manning
2:39 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
How can anyone defend this action by Striet?? If this was a year ago all of Dave's blogger buddies would be hanging Striet from a lamp post by the Village hall!! Now he is with Da Mayor and everything Bob does is Okay?? Who are you crappin
Andrew Burly
5:52 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
ARe you related to the infamous steve Manning in the Tribune Story.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/search_results/?q=manning
Bob
4:33 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Once again this is the Sandra Bury/oaklawn patch. The board did the right thing and resinded the offer and put it up for rebid. Quit complaining Sandra and your sleaze manager Andy
SmallManBigWoman
5:56 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Trautsch, Streit, Quinlan and Heilmann voted FOR it. They did not vote to rescind it. They got caught red handed and now are shining up their halos. Good luck with that.
Neighborhood Guy
6:23 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Caught? I thought that the Public Works Department screwed up. That's the rumor at the hall from the Deetch. So, let's get the story straight (no pun intended). Do you think Andy would be a big woman just because he's a small man that lives off of social security disability that is designed for blind people, the mentally ill and one armed men?
Quiet Neighbor
6:38 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
SMBW, again, why is everything the board's fault? Your statement regarding the trustees and their vote shows that you don't actually understand what you are even ranting about aside from the instant replay of the last rant. You should take a do-over just like they are going to do on the bid process for this job. If they didn't vote yes there would be nothing to rescind, of course they didn't vote to rescind it.
andy skoundrianos
6:36 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Better come up with a new name Dennis/Bob how bout bringing back the old Vikings Players again?? Stu Voight, Chuck Foreman something like that!!! Blame public works when the trustee and Mayor threaten their jobs if they don't do what the want. Look in the mirror if you want to see who is at fault here guys..
LyingEyes
7:57 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Oak Lawn Gal, what's your status. We should meet. Dig your style.
Simon Bling
8:57 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
It sounds like we need to put on a play, We have to many show peeps with to much time on their hands.
Dan Lambert
10:12 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
While we like comments, personal insults and name calling are not welcome. Stay on topic or your comment will get deleted. Talking about the issues is fine, personal attacks aren't.
andy skoundrianos
11:26 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
I have never made fun of trustee Trautsch or Quinlan. I actually do not even talk to Alex unless it is a board meeting..Den/Bob your cutesy fake name thing is getting old.. I present facts you present insults keep attacking me personally that means you guys are worried about something.It is a badge of honor to have mud slung at me by the two masters Dennis Brennan and Bob Streit I'm not running for office or trying to get family and friends no bid contracts. You are, and I will continue to point this out By the way read the patch's rules on blogging if you guys would use real names and pictures They wouldn't delete them but you know that already..
Not Dave/Bob/Dennis
7:28 am on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Lambert, why is Andy allowed to call out public officials and private citizens/attorneys by name? Why is he allowed make baseless allegations? He calls them facts, but we all know it's all conjured up in his head.
MJ
3:41 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Something is seriously wrong around here. I know NONE of these people that are being discussed here , elected officials included. With all the important issues of the day it is very disturbing that all of this fifth grade silliness is going on! I am sure that many of you have deep histories but all of this gets nowhere. Can't believe that I will continue to pay rising taxes , watch crime run out of control....and have many of you ask for our votes? And read this crap over and over again? Please get to the business that you were elected to do, and to those with the multiple personal issues against certain other people, I would rather see you speak with your votes more. Although we all have the right to speak it's clear that many of you have spoke your mind quite a bit. Maybe find more productive ways to make a difference.
Dan Lambert
4:03 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
If anyone has any questions about why certain comments were deleted, we have a very comprehensive Terms of Use section you can refer to: http://oaklawn.patch.com/terms
The Ghost of QC
5:13 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
So andy gets to say whatever he wants but if anyone answers him, then boom! He called two people mudslingers. No action by you. He accused the Mayor and Trustee of threatening the jobs of employees. No action by you. He accused the Mayor of throwing old ladies under a bus. No action by you.
Censorship is a dangerous tool in the hands of the media or the government. Once you start monitoring and deleting, you take responsibility for the comments.
Not Dave/Bob/Dennis
6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
If anti-Andy and anti-doc posters buy ad space on patch and write garbage essays called blogs, can our posts remain? Not holding Andy to same standard is hypocritical and shows Patch is biased.
Dan Lambert
6:37 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I don't know Andy, nor do I have any idea how to go about being biased for or against him. All I am trying to do is enforce really simple rules. Attacking people's private personal lives in these threads isn't OK. If something he writes seems objectionable you are free to flag it and I'll be more than happy to remove it if it doesn't fit in with our standards.
andy skoundrianos
9:28 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
Here's an idea!!! Use your real name and picture cowards and then you won't get deleted!! Big men talking garbage and behind fake names what are you afraid of?? OlG I agree with you in part but it is kind of hard to take people or person seriously when 15 new names come up all attacking the same person and not think it is one person doing it!! My opinion though You at least keep the same tag name I respect that. I use my name and picture because I do not owe anyone anything in this Village. I'm not looking for bids for freinds or family and contrary to comments made I have NEVER asked for a village job EVER BY the way I never said throw Old Ladies under the bus I agree that elected officials are FAIR GAME If you don't like it don't run period....
Joe Wilson
8:20 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
andy, wheres your picture?? Or should I say Phelans?? lol
Oak Lawn Gal
6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I don't like censorship either but I think a simple rule would resolve this. If people call Andy names or get on him about personal issues their posts get deleted. But if Andy calls people names like Dennis/Bob or suggests that people post with their real names because they are obviously Dave or Bob or whoever then His posts gets deleted. But elected officials, candidates and anyone in the news are fair game. The problem with these threads is we end up with a few good discussions about the article and 80% rants that are unrelated and pointless. JMHO.
prophet12155
7:42 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Oh this is great stuff. Watching Andy trip over himself is hysterical! It is such poetic justice that Andy is no longer in the good graces of Streit. He lost his job that he was so proud of, he lost his one true friend that he defended through and through the last election. Karma is one heck of a thing, isn't it?
andy skoundrianos
8:20 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Hey Prophet and Just the facts what are the odds that your posts are made at the exact time of 7:42 am saturday december 8th?? Just luck I guess Right DEN/BOB ??? Bob is no longer in the good graces of a lot of people over the past 6 months Maybe switching sides and joining the Mayor to get his friends and family jobs and contracts had something to do with it...
prophet12155
10:17 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
I am sooooo not Bob or Dennis, Andy. I don't like you for a completely different reason!
c dorta
5:08 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
DON'T WE HAVE ROOFERS IN OAK LAWN ? SHOULDN'T WE BE HELPING OUR OWN ?
Bob
10:10 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
My name is Bob and I have lived in Oaklawn for 23 years. I wonder who the Patch will endorse for mayor.Haha.I think we know the answer to that. I am sure there are Roofing Contractors in Oaklawn that are qualified.
JustTheFacts
7:42 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Fact #1....Andy can do whatever he pleases on "The Patch". Fact #2.....Andy thinks his options are messages from above and he likes to think everyone should follow his word as gospel. He does not have the ability to have a discussion as he throws a hissyfit whenever anyone expresses a different point of view Fact #3: With that mentality and the vehicle of "The Patch" is an unchecked destructive force. Final Fact. Thus given this scenerio the best way to neutralize "Andy" is to ignore him. Yes this will make him stomp his feet harder and throw a tantrum...but eventually he will take his toys and leave and the adults can have a real discussion.
That's just the facts.....as I see them.
Joe Wilson
8:20 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
I have a strong feeling that andy, tom and bob are still in cahoots on the side. I'll bet toms double dealing or trying to with a downstate politician whose choice for 6th distr. is not him, but Carberry. We'll see.