DRAFT

HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

December 1, 2011

A meeting of the Highway Committee of the DeKalb County Board was held on Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 6:00pm in the Conference Room of the DeKalb County Highway Department, DeKalb, Illinois.  

Chairman Gudmunson called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.  Committee members present were Vice-Chair Augsburger, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cribben, Mr. Deverell and Mr. Foster.   Others present were Mr. Nathan Schwartz, County Engineer, Wayne Davey, Support Services Manager from the Highway Department, Mr. Jerry Dunham, who resides at 8255 Gurler Road and Mr. Tice Cole, Crawford, Murphy & Tilly, Inc.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion made by Vice Chairman Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Deverell to approve the minutes of the regular November 3, 2011 meeting.  The motion to approve the minutes as presented carried unanimously. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Motion made by Mr. Deverell and seconded by Mr. Brown to approve the agenda as presented.    The motion carried unanimously

PUBLIC COMMENT:   Mr. Dunham addressed the Committee concerning the recently completed construction of the bridge next to his property on Gurler Road.   Mr. Dunham stated the Contractor, Alliance Contractors, Inc from Woodstock, Illinois unloaded materials and equipment outside the parameters of the designated work area and caused some damage to the road that has not been addressed.  Further, now the road has two additional bumps in it due to the paving of the approaches and he would like those items corrected.  Mr. Schwartz informed the Committee that Gurler Road was a Township Road and although the County supervised the construction of this project, had no authority to perform additional work outside the contract.  Mr. Schwartz will contact the DeKalb Road District Commissioner and explain Mr. Dunham’s concerns and provide several alternatives to the Road District to address those concerns.   Mr. Gudmunson requested a follow-up report by Mr. Schwartz at the January meeting. 

REVIEW OF COUNTY ENGINEER’S PERFORMANCE DURING PROBATION PERIOD:

Mr. Cribben made a motion to move into Executive Session per 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) and Vice Chair Augsburger seconded the motion.  A roll call vote was taken and there were 6 yes votes and 0 no votes.  The Highway Committee moved to Executive Session at 6:12pm. 

The Highway Committee returned to Open Session at 6:30pm.  Vice Chair Augsburger made a motion to authorize the Committee Chairman to sign a memorandum to the County Administrator stating that Mr. Schwartz’s performance has been satisfactory during his probation period and a Personnel Change form directing a 4% salary increase as agreed to during the hiring process.   Mr.  Foster seconded the motion.  During a roll call vote there were 6 yes votes and 0 no votes.  The motion passed unanimously.  The appropriate paperwork will be forward to the County Administrator.

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS:  Chairman Gudmunson inquired into the labor cost per mile of road comparison requested during the November Committee meeting.  Work is still progressing on this item and hopefully will be presented at the January meeting.

COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS: 

Mr. Schwartz presented his Transportation Improvement Progress Report for the month of November to the Committee. The projects listed show little movement as we move into the winter season.  This is the time the Department will be working on surveying and design work for the projects all Road Districts are planning for 2012.  The Timber Pile Inspection Report with Resistograph Readings for the Hortense Street Bridge has been completed and delivered to the Department.  It was favorable news for the Village and the report confirms that the piles do not need to be removed.  That will allow for a deck replacement only and not a completed bridge replacement.  

For information the County’s General County Letting will be held during February 2012.

Mr. Brown inquired if the concerns raised over the intersection of Peace and Freed Roads had been satisfactorily addressed by the County.  Mr. Schwartz stated those concerns will reoccur every time there is an incident at that location.  Mr. Schwartz has been to that intersection at different times of the day and observed traffic movements. The longest wait time he observed was approximately 1 minute to 1 minute and 30 seconds.  The wait time observed at Peace Road and Route 64 that is controlled by a traffic signal, is one minute per cycle.  The majority of traffic moves quicker through the stop condition at Freed Road without a traffic signal.  The Department will continue to monitor the situation.

Mr. Foster stated it would be nice for the Department to give the Committee a heads up when they purchase high dollar items that do not have to be approved by the Committee.  Mr. Foster was referring to two vehicles purchased off the State of Illinois Contract for 2011.  Mr. Foster was under the impression the Department was not purchasing any capital items this year.   Mr. Schwartz explained that during the 2011 budget process the Department was granted $161,000.00 to purchase needed capital items.  The items purchased were listed in the approved budget book for 2011 and these vehicles were purchased off the State contract for considerably less than if the

Department purchased them locally.  Both vehicles were well below the required bidding threshold and were purchased due to the Department’s need.  The Department will ensure such items are discussed with the Committee in the future.

ADJOURNMENT:

Chair Gudmunson asked if there was anything further that needed to be discussed and hearing none asked for a motion to adjourn.  A motion was made by Vice Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Cribben to adjourn.  The motion passed unanimously and the December 1, 2011 meeting was adjourned at 6:58pm.

                                                                        Respectfully Submitted,

                                                                        John Gudmunson

                                                                        Chairperson