IDOT suspends Quincy construction company from state construction projects

8 months, 3 weeks ago

R.L Brink Corp. is appealing the decision which claims the company violated labor

A Quincy area construction contractor is appealing an Illinois Department of Transportation suspension which came about after prompting from local labor leaders.

R.L. Brink Corp. has been suspended for 120 days from participating on any construction project involving the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) based on violations of the Illinois Procurement Code.

Brink works on asphalt paving, concrete work and excavating.  The company is also a frequent contractor for the City of Quincy, Adams County Highway Department and some of the County's townships.

The violations are alleged misclassifications of Brink employees on IDOT projects and allege the falsifying of documents related to the reporting of employees’ duties to IDOT.  The department alleges this was done to circumvent the Responsible Bidder Provision of contract bidding.

Brink issued a news release and said they are appealing the decision:

“We believe the suspension is baseless and R.L. Brink Corp. has filed suit to vacate the suspension and to seek other relief. For the past several years R.L. Brink Corp., its officers and employees have been targeted and harassed by a Representative of Local 965 of the Operating Engineer, Vince Shaw.... R. L. Brink Corp. intends to pursue all means necessary to remedy this situation and expose the misuse of governmental agencies resources by the union to further their own agenda.”

Brink is a nonunion contractor. Along with being a union official, Shaw is also the secretary of the Adams County Democratic Party.

The entire “Notice of Suspension and Interim Suspension” may be viewed here.

The City of Quincy continues to do business with R.L. Brink. Brink is finishing up the Maine Street project between 30th and 36th Street  and other projects are also in the pipeline.

Following last Monday night’s Quincy City Council Meeting, the Central Services Committee met to discuss the status of two Asphalt Projects currently on hold in the city. 

Brink had the low bid for the City’s asphalt resurfacing project, which is being paid with Motor Fuel Tax dollars. But IDOT would not accept Brink to do the project because of the suspension. On Monday night, The City’s Central Services Committee voted to send the issue to the City’s Legal Department for review.

The committee did recommend awarding its Capital Asphalt Resurfacing bid to Brink for $155,921. It will go to the City Council for approval next week. City Officials said no state or federal dollars are used on this project as it is from the City’s capital fund.