DRAFT

HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

September 3, 2009

A meeting of the Highway Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Thursday September 3, 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 and Mr. Gudmunson.  Also present were Mr. Larry Anderson and Mr. Ken Andersen, County Board Members, Mr. Bill Lorence, County Engineer, Wayne Davey, Support Services Manager, Jim Quinn, Operations Manager and Gregg Millburg, Farm Bureau. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion made by Mr. Gudmunson and seconded by Vice-Chair Augsburger to approve the minutes of the regular August 6, 2009 meeting.  The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Motion made by Vice-Chair Augsburger to approve the agenda and Mr. Gudmunson seconded this motion.   The motion to approve the agenda carried unanimously. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Mr. Ken Anderson addressed the Committee concerning sidewalks along Somonauk Road in the Town of Cortland.  Mr. Anderson stated sidewalks needed to be installed or repaired and the Town of Cortland has indicated that the County Engineer will not allow the Town to do so.  Mr. Lorence explained to Mr. Anderson that the County allows sidewalks within the County right-of-way when the public body requesting said sidewalks agree to the building and maintenance of them.  The Town of Cortland currently has such an agreement in their possession but the agreement has never been signed and returned to the County.  Until that is accomplished and agreed to, sidewalks will not be allowed.  Mr. Anderson thanked the County Engineer for his explanation. 

AWARD RESOLUTION #R2009-49 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ONE SHOP TRUCK:

Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that bids were taken on September 1, 2009 for the replacement of one cab and chassis for the Highway Department’s shop truck.  Four bids were received for this piece of equipment.  The low bid meeting specifications was submitted by Peterbilt of Rockford, Inc.  Their bid was submitted for $53,387 for the cab and chassis, $1,050.00 for an extended engine warranty for 84 months or 150,000 miles and $125.00 for a five year unlimited mile transmission warranty.  Mr. Lorence

explained that the current shop truck cab and chassis will be transferred to the aerial lift truck to extend the useful life of that vehicle.  Mr. Lorence recommended award to Peterbilt of Rockford.  A motion was made by Vice-Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Gudmunson to forward proposed Resolution #R2009-49 to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

AWARD RESOLUTION #R2009-50 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF ONE EXCAVATOR: 

The County Engineer explained bids were also taken for the budgeted replacement of one wheeled excavator.  Eight bids were received from seven companies with West Side Tractor Sales of Naperville, Illinois submitting the lowest bid meeting specifications.  The County will be going to a tracked excavator to save on maintenance and improve mobility when working within the right of way.  The County can trailer this piece of equipment and move it around the County as needed.  A motion was made by Mr. Gudmunson and seconded by Vice-Chair Augsburger to forward proposed Resolution #R2009-50 to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE #2009-14 FOR SCHOOL ENTRANCE SPEED ZONE ON PLANK ROAD FOR NORTH GROVE SCHOOL:

Mr. Lorence explained to the Committee that the original planned school speed zone for Plank Road would not be allowed per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).  There are no plans for school children to walk to school and the school property has a fence next to the road.  The school speed zone would be unenforceable.  The Illinois Supplement to the MUTCD does allow for a 15 mile per hour reduction to an established speed limit when buses are turning onto school property for picking up and dropping off students.  The proposed ordinance before the Committee would establish a school entrance speed zone at the school.  This speed zone would take the current 55 mph zone and reduce it to 40 mph.  The no passing zones were also extended through the school area to reemphasize that passing at intersections is prohibited.  A motion was made by Mr. Chambliss and seconded by Vice-Chair Augsburger to forward proposed Ordinance #2009-14 to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

ORDINANCE #2009-13 ESTABLISHING ROAD WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTIONS ON COUNTY HIGHWAYS:

The County Engineer explained that this ordinance was sent back to Committee from the August County Board Meeting for further discussion.  Mr. Lorence explained that when the Governor signed this year’s budget, in that budget process there was the authority to declare all roads in the State of Illinois 80,000 pound roads.  However, this bill did authorize local jurisdictions to post their respective roads if they deemed it necessary.  The County Engineer, after reviewing all typicals for roads under County jurisdiction has determined certain roads needed to continue to be posted at the 73,280 pound limit to maintain the integrity of the road.  Roads that were built up enough to handle consistent 80,000 pound loads would not be posted.  Mr. Gudmunson presented four options for consideration.  One of those options would be to only post for 73,280 pound weight limit for certain times during the year when roads were most vulnerable to deterioration due to the extra weight, i.e., spring postings.  Mr. Lorence explained that the road postings would only be enforceable when signs were in place notifying the traveling public of the restriction.  Mr. Lorence felt certain roads could take the additional weight for certain times of the year but not the whole year.  The County Engineer agreed to not do a blanket posting of the roads year round but only post those roads that he felt needed to be posted at certain times of the year.  Postings would be effective only when signs are present.  A motion was made by Vice-Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Gudmunson to return the proposed Ordinance #2009-13 to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously.

CHAIR’S COMMENTS:      None

COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS: 

The Transportation Improvement Progress Report for August was provided to the Committee for their review.  The highlighted projects on the report were discussed. Preliminary Engineering is progressing on the Kane Road culvert project as well as Old State Road bridge, Five Points Road bridge and Coltonville Road bridge.  The Glidden Road roundabout at Rich Road finally has the lighting detail approved and is moving forward.  The Shabbona Road bridge construction stands at 45% complete and is moving ahead as scheduled.  The curve realignment on South First Street is open and the curves will be hot-mixed prior to winter this year and the entire road will receive a surface course during 2010.  North Grove Road Bridge is now open as well. 

The County Engineer stated he was recently informed by the Legislature that DeKalb County would receive an additional $400,000 in funding for highway purposes.  These funds are scheduled for use on Perry Road from Illinois Route 23 east to Somonauk Road.  That portion of roadway was last resurfaced over 20 years ago.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:  Mr. Ken Andersen requested clarification as to where the proposed round-a-bout was being placed.  Mr. Lorence stated that project is scheduled for Glidden and Rich Roads, not Glidden and Bethany Roads.

Mr. Ken Andersen inquired into the problem with last year’s seal coats.  He stated he noticed some roads that were seal coated last year were in terrible shape.  Mr. Lorence stated there was a problem with the oil last year and the County has since stop using CRS and will be using only HFE in the future.  Hopefully this will correct the problem.

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. Gudmunson seconded this motion. The motion passed unanimously and the September 3, 2009 meeting was adjourned at 7:05p.m. 

Respectfully Submitted

Patricia LaVigne

Chairperson