A meeting of the Highway Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday April 2, 2009 at 6:00pm in the Conference Room of the DeKalb County Highway Department, DeKalb, Illinois.  

Chairperson LaVigne called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.  Committee members present were Vice-Chair Augsburger, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Emerson and Mr. Gudmunson.   Also present were Mr. Bill Lorence, County Engineer, James Quinn, Operations Manager, and Wayne Davey, Support Services Manager. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion made by Vice-Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Emerson to approve the minutes of the regular March 5, 2009 meeting.  After discussion it was determined that under item titled “RESOLUTION FOR LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR SECTION 05-00218-00-RD RESURFACING OF PERRY ROAD FROM LEE COUNTY LINE TO SOMONAUK ROAD SOUTH” on page one,  in line 9, change “$2,306,546.00” to read “$2,206,546.00”.   The motion to approve the minutes as amended carried unanimously. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Motion made by Vice-Chair Augsburger to approve the agenda and Mr. Gudmunson seconded this motion.   After some discussion, a new item 4 was suggested to be added to the agenda as follows:  “MFT RESOLUTIONS FOR AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF MFT FUNDS FOR THE SOUTH FIRST STREET AND SOMONAUK ROAD RESURFACING PROJECTS”.  The motion to approve the agenda as amended carried unanimously. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

Mr. Emerson made a motion to bring the Resolution for Intergovernmental Agreement with Road Districts for Overweighrt/Overlength Permits from the table.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Gudmunson and the item was removed from the table.  Discussion followed pertaining to the new public hearing for the wind farm special use permit.  In light of DeKalb County scheduling an additional hearing on May 11, 2009 and because this resolution deals with permitting overweight and overlength loads that would be required if the wind farm was allowed, a recommendation was made to lay this resolution on the table until the Committee’s June 4th meeting.  A motion was made by Mr. Emerson and seconded by Mr. Gudmunson to lay this item back on the table until the June 4, 2009 meeting of the Highway Committee.  The motion carried unanimously. 

AWARD RESOLUTION FOR DEKALB COUNTY’S 2009 HOT MIX PROJECTS:

Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that DeKalb County received bids for hot-mix projects for 2009.  Six projects were let with four projects being funded by 100% Township funds and two County projects, utilizing County funds.  Only the County projects need to be approved by the County Board this year due to no Township Motor Fuel Tax funds were being utilized to pay for any of the Township projects.  The first project discussed was for the binder overlay of South First Street from Gurler Road south to Perry Road.  Three bids were received for this project and Curran Construction Company from DeKalb, Illinois submitted the lowest bid meeting specifications.  That bid was in the amount of $264,562.50.  The second project is the hot-mix resurfacing of Somonauk Road from Illinois Route 38 south to the landfill.  Four bids were received for this project and again Curran Construction Company submitted the lowest bid meeting specifications.  The amount of that bid was $182,656.00.  Mr. Lorence recommended award to the lowest bidder.  The Committee inquired if the price increased or decreased from last year.  Mr. Lorence explained that the prices increased over last year for bituminous material (prime coat) by 82% and the cost of binder increased by 38%. Mr. Lorence further explained that these increases seemed high only because the county bid their 2008 projects very early in the year last year before prices started to escalate.  The prices we received for these projects were less than the price the State paid during the fall of 2008 for the Illinois Route 23 project, so the prices are coming down from last year and the low bids were under our engineer’s estimate.   Mr. Lorence recommended the resolution be forwarded to the full County Board for approval.  A motion was made by Vice-Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Chambliss to forward the resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

RESOLUTION FOR EXECUTION OF A LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR THE SHABBONA ROAD BRIDGE UNDER SECTION 05-00213-00-BR:

DeKalb County has been approved for $314,054.00 in stimulus funding.  Mr. Lorence explained these funds will be used to replace a bridge on Shabbona Road north of Chicago Road.  These funds will not cover the cost for the entire replacement and the County will spend approximately $199,344.00 of local funds as well.  In order for the County to receive the federal funds of $314,054.00, a Local Agency Agreement will need to be executed.  Mr. Lorence recommended that the County Board Chairperson be authorized to enter into the agreement on behalf of the County.   A motion was made by Mr. Emerson and seconded by Mr. Gudmunson to forward the resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously. 

RESOLUTION FOR EXECUTION OF A LOCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR FEDERAL PARTICIPATION FOR THE RESURFACING OF SOUTH FIRST STREET UNDER SECTION 07-00077-01-RS:

The County Engineer explained that the area MPO received approximately $2,000,000.00 in stimulus funding.  Through the MPO, DeKalb County has been granted $500,000.00 of those funds.  These funds will be programmed for the hot-mix resurfacing of South First Street.  The County will supplement these funds with an additional $189,955.00 to complete this project.  In order for the County to receive the federal funds of $500,000.00, a Local Agency Agreement will need to be executed.  Mr. Lorence recommended that the County Board Chairperson be authorized to enter into this agreement as well on behalf of the County.  A motion was made by Mr. Chambliss and seconded by Vice-Chair Augsburger to forward the resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

MFT RESOLUTIONS FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF MFT FUNDS FOR SOUTH FIRST STREET AND SOMONAUK ROAD PROJECTS:

Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that Motor Fuel Tax Funds were programmed in the 2009 Budget for the South First Street binder project and the resurfacing project for Somonauk Road.  The Committee recommended approval of these projects earlier tonight.  Whenever the County utilizes MFT funds to fund a particular project the full County Board must authorize the use of those funds.  These resolutions accomplish this requirement.  The anticipated MFT funds to be used for the South First Street project are $158,800.00 and for Somonauk Road it is $100,461.00.  The County Engineer recommended these resolutions be forwarded to the full County Board recommending approval.  A motion was made by Mr. Chambliss and seconded by Vice-Chair Augsburger to forward both resolutions to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

CHAIR’S COMMENTS:      Chair LaVigne inquired into the status of the Keslinger Road Bridge.  Mr. Lorence stated the County had meet with representatives of Enbridge Energy, Welded Construction and their attorneys to put forth the demands of the County.  Keeping Enbridge and Welded at their word about returning  roads to the same or better condition then they were found, the County demanded to be kept whole and the Keslinger Road Bridge be replaced at no cost to the County or the Road District.  The County provided those at the table an estimated cost of $933,040.75 for all cost incurred to date and the anticipated cost of replacement.  No further comment has been received from Enbridge or Welded as of this meeting.  In the near future if nothing is resolved to the County’s satisfaction additional action will be explored by the County. 

COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS: 

The Transportation Improvement Progress Report for March was provided to the Committee for their review.  The highlighted projects on the report were discussed. Construction of the Suydam Road Bridge is at 52% and is on schedule.  The South First Street, Perry Road Bridge and North Grove Road Bridge projects have all been let and are waiting the lifting of the spring postings to begin.  Our Perry Road resurface project has been sent to IDOT in hopes of additional stimulus funds becoming
available and awarded to DeKalb County.  Mr. Lorence stated that this project can be completed in stages if the State needs to spend funds.  The Glidden Road roundabout is continuing to move forward.  The IDS remains with IDOT for approval and they are proceeding cautiously as this is their first attempt at a roundabout.  Bethany Road South will be awarded by the DeKalb Road Commissioner in the very near future.  Once spring postings are lifted construction will begin on several projects in the County.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:  Vice-Chair Augsburger inquired into the status of County Bridges.  Mr. Lorence stated that all bridges in the County (including all Road District Bridges) are inspected by the County once every two years unless more frequent inspections are required.  If problems are noted during the inspection the owner of the bridge is directed to take corrective action.  All 19 timber under pile bridges in the County have been posted for legal loads only, meaning no overweight vehicles of any kind are authorized on the bridge.  Mr. Emerson inquired how this would impact the wind farm situation if it is approved by the County Board.  Mr. Lorence stated the wind farm would not be permitted to use any bridge for overloads that were posted.  Alternative routes would need to found.  Once these routes are submitted to the County all structures will be inspected and certified capable to handle loads up to a specified weight.  If the wind farm needs to have loads greater than the specified weight they will need to find alternative routes.  Routes are still being determined.

ADJOURNMENT:

Chairperson LaVigne inquired if there was anything else that needed to be brought before the Committee and hearing none asked for a motion to adjourn.  A motion was made by Vice-Chair Augsburger to adjourn and Mr. Emerson seconded this motion. The motion passed unanimously and the April 2, 2009 meeting was adjourned at 6:48p.m. 
Respectfully Submitted

Patricia LaVigne
Chairperson