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DeKalb County, Illinois |
Minutes of the
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The regular monthly meeting of the Public Infrastructure and Development Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday, February 5, 2004 at 7:00 P.M. in the Conference Room of the DeKalb County Highway Department, DeKalb, Illinois. Chairman Wilson called the meeting to order.
Committee members present were Chairman Wilson, Vice-Chairman MacMurdo, Mr. Faivre, Ms. Fauci, Ms. Fullerton, and Mr. Slack. Also present were William Lorence, County Engineer, and Wayne Davey, Highway Department Support Services Manager.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:Motion made by Ms. Fauci and seconded by Mr. Slack to approve the minutes of January 8, 2004. With no discussion, the motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:Motion made by Mr. MacMurdo to approve the agenda and Ms. Fauci seconded this motion. With no discussion, the motion carried to approve the agenda unanimously.
Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that the County needs to begin to improve Glidden Road beginning with the widening of the existing shoulders. This move would provide the traveling public with a safer road by providing additional recovery time to vehicles that leave the roadway and attempt to return their vehicles to the roadway. Wider shoulders also would allow vehicles to park off the roadway in emergency situations and allow farm equipment to pull off the roadway to allow faster moving traffic to get around them. The County will attempt to have the needed right-of-way donated but financial payment will more than likely be required to obtain the majority of this land. The length of road involved is 10.2 miles from Dresser Road to Illinois Route 72. The Preliminary Engineering Agreement is for the surveys, legal descriptions and other pertinent data for 76 parcels along Glidden at a cost not to exceed $121,800.00. This expenditure will be paid for out of Highway Matching Tax fund. Motion made by Ms. Fauci and seconded by Mr. MacMurdo to present the resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign the preliminary engineering agreement for the purpose of performing surveys and preparation of plats and legal descriptions for right-of-way along County Highway 5, Glidden Road to the DeKalb County Board with a recommendation of approval. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that DeKalb County currently has an Agreement of Understanding with the State of Illinois for the maintenance of roads funded with motor fuel tax. With the reduction of personnel at the State level to process paperwork and oversee construction projects the State is requesting the County Engineer be allowed the authority to approve construction projects at the County level in certain situations. The County Engineer would still be required to construct roads within the Standards established by the State, DeKalb County would continue to be audited by the State on a yearly basis to ensure we are complying with the Standards and construction projects would be authorized for the bidding processes within a shorter time frame. This AOU will streamline the paperwork involved in getting a project approved for bid by the State, reduce down time while waiting on paperwork from the State, but still hold the County responsible to comply with State Standards. The State only allows such an agreement with County Engineer’s who have an adequate staff to accomplish the tasks required for construction projects and the agreement is in effect only as long as Mr. Lorence is the County Engineer. Upon his departure this agreement would become null and void. Motion made by Ms. Fauci and seconded by Mr. MacMurdo to present the resolution authorizing the Chairman and County Engineer to sign the AOU for Maintenance and Construction of Roads funded with Motor Fuel Tax Funds with the State of Illinois to the DeKalb County Board with a recommendation of approval. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Wilson informed the Committee that a bid letting was held at the County Highway on February 3, 2004 at 10:00am for the purpose of receiving bids for a snow plow, frame, hydraulic system, dump body, wing and spreader for the new tandem truck the Committee approved in December of 2003. Two bids were received on the County’s request, one from Bonnell Industries and one from Monroe Truck Sales. Monroe Truck Sales submitted the lowest bid. After reviewing the bids Monroe’s bid did meet the specifications that were bid. Motion made by Mr. MacMurdo and seconded by Mr. Slack to present the resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign the resolution awarding the bid for a snow plow, frame, hydraulic system, dump body, wing and spreader to Monroe Truck Sales in the amount of $56,061.00 to the DeKalb County Board with a recommendation of approval. Motion passed unanimously.
CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS:Chairman Wilson stated that the May 6, 2004 date tentatively scheduled for the Global III Union Pacific tour would not be convenient for several committee members. This item will be discussed at a later date and a more favorable date agreed upon. Chairman Wilson stated that after further study and discussion concerning the possibility of a Casino and Resort coming to the Shabbona Lake area sometime in the future that the impact of the transportation infrastructure in DeKalb County discussed at the January meeting be postponed to a later time. This issue would be addressed again when the County has more definite information that the Casino will locate in DeKalb County and explore the possibility of having outside interest pay for the impact study if possible. The committee agreed with the Chairman. Chairman Wilson stated he would not be in attendance at the March 2004 Committee meeting and that Vice Chairman MacMurdo would chair the meeting.
COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS:Mr. Lorence informed the Committee that the Scout Road Bridge project is approximately 90% completed. There is some back-fill that needs to be completed and that will have to wait until the weather cooperates and thaws the fill. The Old State Road project has an estimated start date of May 1st and the pre-construction meeting is scheduled for March 3, 2004 at 10:30am at the Highway Department conference room. Curran Contracting has been awarded the bid. The Irene Road Bridge project should be let during August but we are still waiting for the Historical Agreement from the State in order to proceed. Projects scheduled for next year include the resurfacing of Peace Road from Route 64 to Plank Road; South County Line Road from Main Street in Sandwich to Sheridan Road; Leland Road from the LaSalle County Line to Suydam Road; Waterman Road from Duffy Road to Perry Road; and Old State Road.
Mr. Lorence informed the Committee there would be a bid letting at 10:00am on March 2, 2004 for the County/Township seal coat projects and all maintenance aggregate projects. The hot mix projects will be let on March 30, 2004.
Mr. Lorence stated that the Committee would be presented with a jurisdictional transfer of Kingston Road to Kingston Road District in the near future. This transfer would provide the Kingston Road District with additional MFT funding but not reduce the MFT funding for DeKalb County. This section of roadway is in the northern part of the County and is currently being contracted for snow removal when necessary. This transfer would be in the best interest of both DeKalb County and Kingston Road District.
OTHER COMMENTS:
Ms. Fauci invited the Committee to attend a DeKalb County Greenway and Trail Coalition event at Kishwaukee College on February 26, 2004 at 7:00pm. Ms. Fauci will be formally inviting members at a later date.
Mr. Slack inquired who was responsible for the snowmobile signs that are placed throughout the County and was informed this task was handled by the snowmobile clubs. Mr. Slack commented that they seem to be doing a good job in that area.
Chairman Wilson asked the Committee for their feedback on the shape of County roads during the winter season. Comments received by Committee members have been mostly favorable with some citizens complaining of slippery roads. For the most part citizens seem to be satisfied with the job being done.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to be brought before the Committee Ms. Fullerton moved to adjourn, seconded by Ms. Fauci. Motion carried unanimously and the February 5, 2004 meeting adjourned at 7:40 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted
James MacMurdo |
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