By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Normal Town Council members took action without discussion Monday night on millions of dollars in spending on insurance and infrastructure improvements.

The items were part of the so-called Omnibus agenda, and were approved in a single vote because they’re considered routine.

They include paying almost $1.4 million for the town’s share of municipal insurance cooperative representing 24 public entities. A staff report says this year’s premium is down 13 percent from the previous year because of minimal claims for categories including general liability, workers compensation, and public officials liability.

The council also unanimously approved Stark Excavating’s nearly $792,000 low bid for replacing what the town said are substandard four inch water mains at Walnut St. and Mulberry St. Stark will also be paid up to $15,000 for early completion of the project.

Stark Excavating was also the low bidder to replace Watkins Drive, from Towanda Avenue to Ring Road at the Shoppes of College Hills. The town staff said the nearly $188,000 bid came in about 30 percent below the engineer’s estimate.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]