The regular monthly meeting of the Highway Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday, June 2, 2005 at 6:00 P.M. in the Conference Room of the DeKalb County Highway Department, DeKalb, Illinois.    

Vice-Chair Faivre called the meeting to order.  Committee members present were Mr. Anderson, Ms. Fauci and Mr. Whelan.   Also present were William Lorence, County Engineer, Wayne Davey, Highway Department Support Services Manager, Mr. Greg Millburg, Farm Bureau and Mr. Robert Enriques, National Sign Plazas. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 

Motion made by Mr. Whelan and seconded by Ms. Fauci to approve the minutes of May 5, 2005.  The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 

Motion made by Mr. Anderson to approve the agenda and Mr. Whelan seconded this motion.  The motion carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented. 

PRESENTATION ON UNIFORM SIGN PLAZA PROGRAM: 

Vice-Chair Faivre introduced Mr. Robert Enriquez, Regional Sales and Business Development for National Sign Plazas to the Committee.  Mr. Enriquez thanked the Committee for the time to speak to them.  Mr. Enriquez’s Company produces sign plazas that hold several individual signs directing the public to new home subdivisions.  This product works toward eliminating visual blight, beautifies right-of-way and provides direction to the traveling public who might be looking for these new developments.  Every weekend you see signs erected within the right-of-ways marketing the sale of new homes.  These signs are scattered all over the right-of-way and the County would have to expend valuable resources to remove these signs.  This product would provide a central location for these signs, be maintained by National Sign Plazas and earn the County $10.00 per month for each sign erected.  The Committee was concerned that if they allow this sign plaza for the home-builder industry to be erected in the County right-of-way other marketing entities would want to follow suit.  The Committee had concerns that they would give the impression that the County would be providing an avenue of free marketing to home-builders.  The Committee also stated that the County Code does not allow for the erecting of signage within the right-of-way except for signs that are in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and that does not include advertising.  The County Engineer explained that that prohibition is also in the Illinois Complied Statutes and the County Board would have to go through the process of requesting the law be changed to allow these signs to be erected.  The Committee liked the idea of removing the unsightly signs but was not interested in providing a free avenue for marketing purposes.  The Committee thanked Mr. Enriquez for taking the time to meet with the Committee.  Ms. Fauci made a motion that the Committee receive the report and take no further action.  Mr. Anderson seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. 

MFT RESOLUTION FOR PEACE ROAD SECTION 03-00203-01-CG (MEDIAN) 

         The County Engineer presented the Committee with an MFT resolution in the amount of $12,512.00 for the installation of a raised median on Peace Road, South of Illinois Route 23, in front of the Walgreen’s right-in/right-out.  This median would replace the Jersey Barriers currently located there.  The full County Board awarded this project to Landmark Contractors during their April meeting.  This resolution is required in order for the County to expend MFT funds on this project.  A motion was made by Mr. Anderson and seconded by Ms. Fauci to forward the proposed resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

CHAIR’S COMMENTS:   

Vice-Chair Faivre had no comments for the Committee.  

COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS: 

Mr. Lorence provided his progress report to the Committee.  The Shabbona Road resurfacing project has been awarded to Aurora Blacktop and the pre-construction meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2005 at 1:30pm at the Highway Department.   Kirkland Road Bridge is underway and the old bridge structure has been removed and the road was closed to all traffic on May 23, 2005.  Bethany Road Extension is underway and progressing nicely.  The Glidden Road ROW acquisition is all but completed with the exception of one parcel that will have to go to eminent domain to settle. 

Mr. Lorence informed the Committee that as of this date there are no items to be brought before the Committee in July.  A motion was made by Mr. Anderson and seconded by Mr. Whelan to cancel the July Meeting of the Highway Committee.   The motion carried unanimously.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

         Vice-Chair Faivre voiced concern over the ever-raising cost of acquiring land and building roads.  With the County’s Comprehensive Plan in place he inquired if there was a way to feed that information into a computer model and have that model determine that as the County develops we are building the roads in the appropriate place and that our existing roads were sufficient to carry the increased traffic.  Mr. Lorence explained that the Comprehensive plan does contain a transportation plan.  A more detailed plan could be developed depending on the amount of funds the Committee desired to spend for such a study.  The County is studying the possibility of establishing a relationship with a lobbying firm to earmark federal funds to be used for special projects that might not require continuing funding.  This might be one of those projects that could be presented should the County make the decision to contract with a lobbyist. 

         Mr. Anderson inquired if the County Engineer had any current information on the Prairie Parkway now being planned for DeKalb County.  Mr. Lorence indicated he had no additional information other than that presented at the public hearings held last year.  Mr. Lorence indicated that DeKalb County had always been one of the options for the location of the Parkway but he has not been informed that DeKalb County will be the location of this Parkway.   

         Mr. Whelan inquired if there were any plans to extend Taylor Street through to Peace Road.  Mr. Lorence stated that the extension had been in the Comprehensive Plan since 1991, but was removed during the last revision of the plan.  There does not seem to be any movement to do that now and it would be difficult with the construction of the Target Distribution Center in line with Taylor Street.   Mr. Whelan was concerned about the lack of east-west thoroughfares for the public going through the DeKalb area. 

ADJOURNMENT: 

         There being no further business to be brought before the Committee Ms. Fauci moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Anderson.   Motion carried unanimously by voice vote and the June 2, 2005 meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.

Respectfully Submitted

Pat LaVigne

Chairman