Jim Semelka (Oak Park) and Kerstin von der Heide (Downers Grove) have been a part of a prevailing wage committee that consisted of public bodies including their legal representatives and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, contractors including arborists and IAA lobbyists, and labor unions.  The committee met multiple times between March and September of 2012.  The group developed a Question and Answer format or FAQ for trees and landscaping, and how and when the Prevailing Wage Act applies.  The committee members then met with the Director of IDOL, Mr Joseph Costigan, his legal staff and top management level employees on Dec 12, 2012, and then a follow-up meeting  March 18, 2013.  Director Costigan indicated IDOL would prepare a response to the committee's FAQ with a revised version.  I have attached their response which I read as favorable for diseased/hazardous tree removal and replacement tree plantings - specifically that it is uncovered work.

 Please read all items of the attached FAQ carefully and review your individual scenarios and contracts with your Directors and Legal staff.  IDOL staff was very clear that the Prevailing Wage Act requires that public bodies MUST state whether the work is covered or not covered by the Prevailing Wage Act, and is encouraging contractors to report public bodies to the Attorney General's office if public body contracts are vague (ie contract language that implies the contractor must determine if the PW Act applies etc.).  Also, terminology needs to change and no longer use the word "maintenance",  but instead work is either covered or not covered by the PW Act - this is both in verbal and written contexts.

 This information will be posted by the Council of Governments and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus indicated they will put it on their website.

Thank you to everyone who worked very hard to help hold the line on our municipal costs.  

Today’s Statehouse Briefing includes an action alert on legislation that would increase the cost of public works projects, an update on United States Senate passage of the Marketplace Fairness Act, a new and costly workers’ compensation amendment, and our Statehouse Preview video for this week.

The House adjourned this afternoon after completing floor action on the final day to move House bills over to the Senate. Following a weeklong break, House members will return to Springfield on April 30 to begin consideration of Senate bills. Meanwhile, the Senate cancelled session for Friday, and will return on April 23, just ahead of the April 25 deadline for moving Senate bills over to the House. 

The major work item that impacts Public Works in this group was HB 924 Competent Bidder.  An overview is attached.  

The General Assembly is back this week following a two­-week break. The House resumed legislative activity on April 8, and the Senate will return to Springfield on April 10. The number of bills being tracked by the IML has been substantially reduced at this point. Prior to the March 22 deadline for moving bills out of committee, we were tracking between 500-600 bills. We are presently tracking fewer than 200 bills.