A Northbrook firm that was awarded a $2.4 million bid by Will County has promised to hire 75 percent of its pipefitters from Local 597, based in Mokena.

F.E. Moran was recently approved to provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and temperature controls at the county's new public safety complex, now under construction at U.S. 52 and Laraway Road in Joliet.

“Giving back to the communities that F.E. Moran works in has always been a priority. As a family-owned business, F.E. Moran takes pride in employing locals and putting money back into the local economy,” said Scott Bowen, F.E. Moran piping superintendent in a news release.

The firm puts “an emphasis on strengthening the relationship with local residents,” and strives to be “a partner with the municipalities” for which it provides services, said Charlotte Flesher, vice president of F.E. Moran in a news release.

The company is known for “building relationships with locals,” and building a “foundation of trust with the people in their working community,” according to that release.

Its work on the public safety complex will begin in the spring of 2017.

Company spokeswoman Sarah Block said the maximum crew size is eight pipefitters. According to the construction schedule, the company plans to be on the job from April 28 to June 29, 2017.

Will County has launched a campaign to replace its aging buildings, beginning with the $32 million public safety complex, which will house the Will County sheriff's office, a consolidated 911 dispatch center for 30 communities, and its 911 administrative offices.

When that is completed it will begin construction on a $195 million courthouse in downtown Joliet, and later replace its health department facility.

County board members have emphasized that they want jobs to go to county residents who are paying for these buildings.

“I am delighted to hear that,” said Ragan Freitag, R-Wilmington, who chairs the county's capital improvements committee. “One hundred percent is always good, but 75 percent (local workers) is wonderful.”

“Will County has a history of working well with the trades and working well with companies on all our projects. That reputation will stand on its own,” she said.

F.E. Moran was the lowest responsible bidder for the HVAC work, and about half the work for the public safety complex contracted to date has been to Will County companies. Still, it prompted a discussion recently at the county's capital improvements committee on whether the county should redefine “responsible” bidder as one who will hire local residents. The second lowest bidder was a Will County firm, at $2.5 million.

In awarding the bid to the Northbrook firm, county officials requested that they hire from local unions.

F.E. Moran's news release was issued in response to those concerns.

slafferty@tribpub.com