Motion made by Ms. Fullerton to approve the agenda and Ms. Fauci seconded this motion.  Discussion followed to amend the agenda by adding Proposed County Resolution to allow the County Engineer to issue overweight permits for roads under his jurisdiction as item 1.a.  The motion carried unanimously to approve the agenda as amended. 

REMOVE FROM THE TABLE:  PROPOSED ROAD POSTING ORDINANCE AMENDING CODE OF ORDINANCES, COUNTY OF DEKALB SECTION 70-2 PARAGRAPH (a). 

            Motion made by Mr. MacMurdo and seconded by Mr. VanBuer to remove proposed road posting ordinance, County Ordinance 2004-33 from the table.  The motion carried unanimously.  Discussion was held concerning the intent of the proposed ordinance.  The Committee was informed that the County Engineer, after consultation with the Engineering Manager and reviewing of construction, maintenance, and repair records, had determined that certain roads that are currently posted for a weight limit of 54,000 pounds could be upgraded to a legal weight limit of 73,280 pounds.  Because of that determination the County Engineer has proposed lifting the 54,000 pound restriction on all but the following roads:  (1) Perry Road from Shabbona Road to South First Street, a distance of 5 miles; (2) Shabbona Road from Route 30 to Chicago Road, a distance of 4.5 miles; and (3) West Suydam Road from Rollo Road to South County Line, a distance of 3 miles.  This proposed amendment would reduce the number of miles posted at 54,000 pounds and allow loaded vehicles to run at 73,280 pounds from 67.5 miles to 12.5 miles.  The Committee inquired as to why the remaining 12.5 miles could not be removed from the 54,000-pound restriction and they were informed that basically the remaining roads were seal coat roads and could not withstand the constant loads of 73,280 pounds without causing considerable deterioration of the roadway.  As the roads are upgraded with additional lifts of hot mix in the future the County Engineer will continue to review these roads and determine when /if the 54,000 pound restriction could be removed.  A motion was made by Mr. VanBuer and seconded by Ms. Fauci to forward proposed county ordinance 2004-33 to the full County Board recommending approval.  Motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION TO BE PROVIDED TO ALL STATE SENATORS AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES SERVING DEKALB COUNTY TO ALLOW THE COUNTY ENGINEER TO ISSUE OVERWEIGHT PERMITS FOR DIVISIBLE LOADS.

            Mr. MacMurdo presented a resolution to the Committee for consideration that would request from DeKalb County Senators and Representatives that they consider introducing legislation that would allow the County Engineer to issue overweight permits for divisible loads traveling on the DeKalb County roadway system.  This resolution came about after the County was informed that the State Police would consider current overweight permits being issued for divisible loads by the County Engineer as null and void.  The County Engineer requested an opinion from the State’s Attorney’s Office and in a verbal opinion was informed that 625 ILCS 5/15-301 was fairly clear that   “No state or local agency shall authorize the issuance of excess size or weight permits for vehicles and loads that are divisible and that can be carried, when divided, within the existing size or weight maximums specified in this chapter.”  The County Engineer has further requested a written opinion as to whether DeKalb County Code Section 70-2 is defensible wherein it exempts vehicles making service calls, pickups or deliveries to residences, farms and construction sites on or adjacent to the roadways.  If Section 70-2 were not defensible in the court system then it would appear that farmers could face some adverse action while hauling grain over the posted weight limits on the County and Road District roadways.  Chief Deputy Hickey explained to the Committee that his recollection of Section 70-2 came about as a gentlemen’s agreement between the Farm Bureau, the DeKalb County Sheriff and the County Engineer some 20-25 years ago.  It was created prior to I-39, I-88, and Peace Road being constructed.  The reasoning was to protect the County’s roadways from heavily loaded grain trucks traveling through DeKalb County from other States as well as garbage trucks running more and more loads through DeKalb County to their final destination and still allowing DeKalb County grain farmers to travel these roads.   The proposed draft resolution would request that Springfield review this situation and allow the County Engineers to issue overweight permits for divisible loads when appropriate.  Mr. Bockman indicated that this might be an appropriate issue for the Legislation Committee to look at as well.  A motion was made by Mr. VanBuer and seconded by Mr. Gudmunson to forward the proposed resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  Motion carried unanimously.

MFT RESOLUTION FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR SECTION 97-00183-00-TL:

            The Committee was presented with a MFT Resolution in the amount of $246,500.00 for the construction of traffic signals at Peace and Bethany Roads.  DeKalb County is participating in the cost of these traffic signals as part of the City of Sycamore’s project to widen Bethany Road.  The City is in charge of this project.  In order for DeKalb County to use MFT funds for this project an MFT Resolution must be passed by the County Board authorizing such expenditure.  The amount of this resolution represents approximately 60% of the total cost of construction of the signals and improvements to the intersection.  A motion was made by Ms. Fauci and seconded by Mr. MacMurdo to forward the MFT Resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  Motion carried unanimously.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS: 

Chairman Wilson informed the Committee that the Administrative Services Committee would meet again at 6:30pm, October 12, 2004 in Conference Room East to further discuss the 2005 budget.