Teutopolis considers changing village's engineering firm
Jan. 8—Teutopolis officials are considering changing the village's engineering firm as board members look for a way to acquire more grant funds.
Members of the board discussed potential plans to make Milano & Grunloh Engineers the village's new engineering firm during the board's meeting Wednesday. Connor & Connor, Inc. is village's current engineering firm.
"They write the grant for free," Village Trustee Dave Tegeler said Wednesday regarding Milano & Grunloh Engineers. "We haven't even gotten grants because Connor & Connor haven't gone after them. We are paying full price, and this has got to stop."
The board is set to vote on the matter during its meeting on Jan. 17, but the proposed change drew criticism from Teutopolis Village Foreman Carl Pals, who urged board members to look for a different means of pursuing grants funds.
"The village employees request that the board retain Connor & Connor for several reasons," Pals said. "We had an informal meeting with Milano & Grunloh, and now we're going to have an informal meeting with Connor & Connor Friday at 8 a.m."
Pals expressed concerns over the quality of Milano & Grunloh's work, and he told members that the village currently receives discounts from Connor & Connor for their engineering services.
"I'm talking about experience and what I've seen myself," Pals said.
Pals also argued that obtaining more grant funds shouldn't be a top priority for the village when selecting its engineering firm.
"I'm concerned about the engineering part of it," Pals said. "I don't care about the grant part of it."
In response to Pals, Trustee Daniel Zerrusen explained that the board is considering switching engineering firms because Milano & Grunloh applies for grants on behalf of their clients in addition to providing engineering services.
"It would be great if we had other ways of obtaining grants, but the fact of the matter is you need an engineering service like that that has the knowledge and ability to go after them." Zerrusen said. "We don't have that."
Zerrusen also pushed back against Pals criticism of Milano & Grunloh's engineering skills.
"You're saying that you can't be a grant writer and a good engineering firm, and I disagree with that," Zerrusen said.
The board did not take any action on the proposed change in engineering firms during the meeting Wednesday.
Nick Taylor can be reached at nick.taylor@effinghamdailynews.com or by phone at 618-510-9226 or 217-347-7151 ext. 300132.
