Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
Construction workers who are Springfield residents could have more opportunities to work on repairing the city’s roads and sidewalks because of a new local labor ordinance. The Springfield City Council on Tuesday approved requirements for local labor on city construction. For public works projects that cost the city more than $100,000, contractors must make an effort to have city residents complete 50 percent of the hours.
Mayor Jim Langfelder introduced changes to the proposal from when it was originally introduced in June. The council approved the amended version, with nine aldermen and the mayor voting “yes” and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin voting “present.”
The original proposal included a requirement that Springfield laborers from low- and middle-income census tracts complete 7.5 percent of the hours for capital projects. That stipulation was taken out, and the minimum contract amount for the rules to take effect was raised from $50,000 to $100,000. The new requirements extend to redevelopment projects that receive tax increment financing.
Also under the new rules, the city can ask unions bidding on projects that require labor agreements to show they have a training or apprenticeship program and strategies to recruit minorities and women. Brad Schaive, labor manager for Laborers Local 477, told aldermen about the advantages of having an apprenticeship program that specifically targets minority populations and women.
McMenamin objected to how the changes to the ordinance were introduced.
“We shouldn’t pass ordinances by surprise. We should give notice to the aldermen and the public,” he said after the meeting, noting that the amended ordinance was not discussed at the committee meeting two weeks ago. “I realize the unions were strongly in favor of the ordinance tonight.”
In other action Tuesday:
*Aldermen voted to annex the remaining properties around Lake Springfield that were not included in a vote last month due to an error in paperwork.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 