CIVIL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC PROJECTS 

The City of Woodstock is continuing to enhance its aging infrastructure through its Gould Street Water Main Replacement project. Once complete, the project will have replaced and upsized a quarter mile of water main from 4” to 8”, which reinforces the system's operation and longevity. Various storm and sanitary sewer point repairs were also completed to ensure all underground improvements within the roadway were completed before resurfacing and reconstruction of the various roadways.

Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) is collaborating with the City of Plano to assess the performance and capacity of their 2.44 MGD Biological Nutrient Removal Facility with aerobic digestion. As part of the evaluation, TAI addresses a key challenge: the City’s septic receiving station, which handles up to 10,000 gallons of septage per day during peak season. The additional solids load affects the facility’s overall capacity, especially in the aerobic digester. Our team is performing influent sampling and utilizing BioWin modeling to gain a thorough understanding of the facility’s operational dynamics. TAI is also developing an updated Basis of Design to reflect the impact of the septage receiving station, helping to determine the aerobic digester's remaining capacity. The result will guide recommendations for improvements to the solids handling system, ensuring long-term efficiency and performance, which is critical to infrastructure, and optimizing the wastewater treatment processes. 

The Glenbard Wastewater Authority has hired Trotter and Associates, Inc. to move forward from the design phase to resident engineering services for the primary clarifier rehabilitation project. As part of these upgrades, the primary clarifiers, gravity thickeners, solids pumping system, and electrical and control systems will be replaced and upgraded due to aging infrastructure. The Authority has completed a 47 MGD bypass with six suction lift pumps and three overland force mains. This bypass allowed the primary clarifiers to be taken offline, enabling the installation of diversion structure gates that includes three new downward-opening weir gates and two new sluice gates. Over the following months, each clarifier will be taken out of service independently for complete removal and replacement with new stainless-steel mechanisms. The project team included Vissering Construction, Connelly Electric Co., Dahme Mechanical Industries, and Tri-R Systems, Inc. To learn more, follow TAI’s Current Projects at trotter-inc.com , or contact one of our team members.

The Village of Fox Lake and Trotter and Associates, Inc. have recently completed infrastructure improvements along Hillside Court, creating a safer and more dependable corridor for the community. The project involved building a soldier pile wall to replace a failing wall supporting the existing roadway, improving stormwater flow with rip-rap channels and drainage structures, and reconstructing the roadway using full-depth reclamation with concrete. This approach combined technical excellence with cost savings to provide long-term benefits for the community. 

The Janak and Weck subdivisions, located in the Village of Algonquin, are older subdivisions within the municipality. The Village is looking to provide residents with long-term sustainable solutions to update its existing aging water and sewer infrastructure. To achieve this goal, the Trotter team is preparing a feasibility study that outlines the best options for improving the infrastructure in these subdivisions. One of the main components will be assessing whether to rehabilitate the existing rear-yard sanitary sewers or to replace the sewers within the right-of-way in front of the properties. Once the study is completed, the Village will have the data needed to make an informed decision that results in the most cost-effective, sustainable infrastructure plan for this area. 

Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) continues its partnership with the DuPage County Department of Stormwater Management on the rehabilitation of the West Lobe Pump Station at the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility. This critical infrastructure serves as a flood control system by storing excess flow during major rain events and later pumping stormwater back to Salt Creek once conditions recede.  Independent Mechanical Industries, Inc., and their subcontractors are on schedule for the West Lobe Pump Station to be returned to service this fall. Over the last several months, the team completed installation of four 500-hp pumps and rehabilitation of the discharge piping supports along the 100-foot quarry highwall. Additionally, the pump station’s electrical system was upgraded with a 2,500-amp switchboard and VFDs to provide a long-term reliable electrical system for the facility.

Construction of the City of Woodstock's 2025 Enhanced Street Program, which improves 8.4 miles of roadway, began last month. These improvements include both resurfacing and reconstruction of local residential/commercial streets, as well as higher traffic volume collector and arterial streets. During the design phase, TAI engineers performed a comprehensive evaluation using pavement cores, PCI ratings, and in-person field assessments to determine the most cost-effective and appropriate improvement for each roadway segment. To maximize value and minimize disruption, cement-stabilized full-depth reclamation (FDR) was selected as the reconstruction method for qualifying streets. FDR recycles the existing aggregate and subgrade materials by blending them with Portland cement and water, creating a strong, stable base ready for paving, without the need to haul in new aggregate. This sustainable approach not only reduces cost and environmental impact but also significantly minimizes disruption to residents. We’re proud to partner with the City of Woodstock in delivering efficient solutions for our municipal clients and their residents. 

Soukaina joins our Lake Geneva, WI office as a Staff Engineer after earning her Master’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Her graduate research focused on experimental studies of sediment transport, where she applied advanced tools like PIV and ADV to deepen understanding of complex hydraulic processes. Soukaina’s analytical approach and commitment to technical excellence align with TAI’s focus on innovative, sustainable solutions for the communities we serve. We look forward to introducing her to our clients and partners.

Great energy in Platteville, WI this week at the 2025 APWA Wisconsin Chapter Fall Conference! Steve Cieslica, P.E., and Miranda Manley represented Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI), connecting with public works professionals from across the region during educational sessions and networking events.  As a proud APWA WI Chapter Sponsor, TAI values opportunities that support our team’s professional growth and engagement with the broader public works community.

Trotter and Associates, Inc. hosted an Open House in Lake Geneva, welcoming the firm’s valued clients and partners. The evening showcased our recent office expansion and renovations, and included several Wisconsin favorites—New Glarus beer, classic Old Fashioneds, and a brat charcuterie station that kept everyone coming back for more. We thank everyone who joined us and congratulate our raffle winner, Gabrielle Salbreiter. Looking forward to welcoming everyone back next year.