DRAFT

HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

March 3, 2011

A meeting of the Highway Committee of the DeKalb County Board was held on Thursday, March 3, 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. Deverell and Mr. Foster.   Others present were Mr. Steven Reid, County Board Member, Mr. Greg Millburg of DeKalb Farm Bureau, Mr. William Lorence, County Engineer, and Wayne Davey, Support Services Manager from the Highway Department.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion made by Vice-Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Foster to approve the minutes of the regular February 10, 2011 meeting.  Chairman Gudmunson asked the County Engineer for clarification of the MFT distribution as stated in the minutes.  Mr. Lorence stated it breaks down to approximately local jurisdictions receiving 54% of MFT funds collected, with the State receiving the remaining 46%. The motion to approve the minutes as presented carried unanimously. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

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

PUBLIC COMMENT:   None

AWARD RESOLUTION #R2011-17 2011 COUNTY HOT MIX PROJECTS:

Mr. Lorence explained that bids were taken for this years hot mix projects.  Six total projects were bid by the Highway Department; however, only four are required to be awarded by the County Board.  Under Section 11-00000-04-GM, four bids were received meeting specifications for the resurfacing of one mile of Perry Road from Waterman Road east to Illinois Route 23.  The low bid for the placement of 1 ¼” of hot mix asphalt surface course N30 was submitted by Curran Construction Company of DeKalb, Illinois in the amount of $78,880.00.  The next project reviewed was Glidden Road under Section 11-00000-05-GM and the low bid meeting specifications was submitted by Curran Construction Company in the amount of $347,710.  This is for the placement of ¾” of leveling binder N50 and 1 ¼” of hot mix asphalt surface course, N30 on 3.16 miles of Glidden Road.  Both of these projects are County projects and will be funded with MFT funds (55%) and Matching funds (45%).  The next project reviewed was for Cortland Road District under Section 11-03118-00-RS.  Curran Construction Company also submitted the low bid meeting specifications in the amount of $142,058.00.  This project involves 0.118 miles of Hillside Drive, 0.076 miles of Barber Greene Road and 0.861 miles of Airport Road and will have 1 ¾” of hot-mix asphalt binder course, N50 and 1 ½” of hot-mix asphalt surface course N30 placed on these roads.  The final hot-mix project being reviewed was for Somonauk Road District and involves 0.338 miles of South County Line Road and 0.051 miles of Victor Line Road.  This project is being constructed under Section Number 11-15000-00-GM and will involve the placement of 1” of leveling binder, N50 and 1 ¼” of hot mix asphalt surface course, N30.  Aurora Blacktop, Inc of Montgomery, Illinois submitted the low bid meeting specifications in the amount of $55,735.60.  All projects were under the Engineer’s Estimate and both Companies have performed well in the past for the County.  Mr. Lorence recommended award to the low bidders.  Mr. Brown inquired into the process of how roads are chosen to be resurfaced.  Mr. Lorence stated it is done by mainly visual inspection of the roadways.  Once road surfaces are observed to be in the beginning stages of distress, they are programmed into the County’s Five Year Transportation Improvement Plan.  As funds become available they are resurfaced.  The Road Districts projects are presented by the Road Commissioners after consultation with the County’s engineering staff.  A motion was made by Vice-Chair Augsburger and seconded by Mr. Deverell to forward this resolution to the full County Board recommending award.  The motion carried unanimously. 

MFT RESOLUTION #R2011-18 2011 OLD STATE ROAD BRIDGE:

Mr. Lorence explained the County will be receiving bids for Section 06-00216-00-BR on April 5, 2011 for the replacement of the bridge over Owens Creek located on Old State Road, between Malta Roads.  The letting date has been moved forward due to the projected steel rolling dates for this bridge.  Special steel used in this project is rolled only at certain times during the year and in order to have the bridge replaced between planting and harvest season the County needs to award this project as early as possible.  In order to have this project placed in the IDOT Construction Bulletin to solicit bids the County is required to submit an MFT resolution prior to advertisement if MFT funds will be used.  This resolution will satisfy that IDOT requirement.  Bridge funds (72%), MFT funds (17%) and Matching funds (11%) will be utilized by the County to pay for this project.  Mr. Lorence recommended this resolution be submitted to the full County Board recommending approval.  A motion was made by Mr. Foster and seconded by Mr. Brown to forward this resolution to the full County Board recommending approval.  The motion carried unanimously. 

CHAIRMAN’S COMMENTS:         Chairman Gudmunson noted that last month’s meeting contained valuable information detailing how highway projects are funded.  He suggested Committee Members keep a copy of the minutes to use as a reference throughout the year as needed.  Chairman Gudmunson also expressed the Committee’s sympathy to the Weber Family for the recent loss of Mr. Weber’s daughter.  Mr. Weber is a Highway Department employee for those that were unaware of this fact. 

 COUNTY ENGINEER’S COMMENTS: 

The Transportation Improvement Progress Report for February was provided to the Committee for their review.  The highlighted projects on the report were discussed.  The

only noticeable change from January report was the letting date for the Old State Road Bridge project as explained earlier.  Other projects continue to move forward as expected and no real issues need to be addressed at this time. 

Mr. Lorence advised the Committee that .8 miles of Chicago Road from Illinois Route 23 east to the Rosenwinkel Grain Facility had been bonded by Mr. Rosenwinkel.  That bonding allowed the County not to spring post that section of road.  The legal weight limit for Chicago Road is posted at 73,280 pounds.  Mr. Rosenwinkel was cited by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department for hauling sealed international grain containers out of his facility weighing in excess of 90,000 pounds during spring posting.  After discussing this issue with Mr. Rosenwinkel it was agreed that he could continue to haul these containers but he would be required to cover the cost for resurfacing that portion of road with a 2 ¼ ” lift of binder course and 1 ¼” of surface course.  The County has obtained a cashier’s check to cover the cost of this overlay.  The County Engineer will begin to prepare an agreement with Mr. Rosenwinkel to build that portion of the road to allow 80,000 pound loads year round. 

Mr. Foster stated that all roads in the County should be upgraded to 80,000 pounds and would like to see a plan developed to accomplish this.  Mr. Foster pointed out that the economical hardship placed on the agriculture community by only being allowed to haul grain products at 73,280 pounds instead of 80,000 pounds is quite substantial.  Mr. Lorence explained to Mr. Foster that the County has some 80,000 pounds roads and every lift of hot-mix or binder placed on County roads builds them closer to 80,000 pounds.  When a road is structurally sufficient to handle constant 80,000 pounds loads the roads are posted as such.  Mr. Lorence suggested this might be an item for the new County Engineer to pursue.  

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:   None

 ADJOURNMENT:

Mr. Foster inquired if there was anything else that needed to be brought before the Committee and hearing none made a motion to adjourn.  The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Augsburger. The motion passed unanimously and the March 3, 2011 meeting was adjourned at 6:58pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

John Gudmunson

Chairperson