Kendall County Highway Department Committee Met Oct. 13.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Gryder, Amy Cesich, Judy Gilmour, and Matt Prochaska
STAFF PRESENT: Ginger Gates and Fran Klaas
ALSO PRESENT: Ryan Sikes from WBK Engineering Matt Jereb and Tony Simmons from HR Green
The committee meeting convened at 3:30 P.M. with roll call of committee members. Kellogg absent. Quorum established.
Motion Prochaska; second Gilmour, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion Gilmour; second Prochaska, to approve the Highway Committee meeting minutes from September 8, 2020. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion Prochaska; second Gilmour, to recommend approval of a Phase 3 Construction Engineering Services Agreement between Kendall County and HR Green for project management of the Eldamain Road – Contract B Construction in an amount not to exceed $3,599,124. Klaas described the project timing, including the proposed bid opening date of November 6, 2020. He also described how HR Green has been involved in the development of nearly all phases of the Eldamain Road corridor, and has done an outstanding job. He thought it would make a lot of sense for consistency and continuity to have HR Green provide the construction oversight for this project. Cesich asked if there was any federal money in the Phase 3 Engineering. Klaas indicated the Phase 3 costs would be 100% local. Cesich also asked about whether these services should be bid. Klaas reminded the committee that professional services cannot be bid – per State Law. Selection can only be based on qualifications, not on price; and qualification-based selection can be waived, considering Kendall County has an existing relationship with HR Green for this project. Matt Jereb and Tony Simmons introduced themselves. Jereb briefly described the proposed team for this project, thanked the committee for their confidence in HR Green, and asked if there were any questions for HR Green. Gryder described how he and his dad had stood near the intersection of Eldamain Road and River Road about 30 years ago; and his dad, former Highway Commissioner for Little Rock Township, had said that someday there would be a bridge across the Fox River at this location. Gryder discussed how long it takes to get major projects actually built; so this is a very exciting time for Kendall County, and there will likely be lots of opportunities for economic development along this corridor. There will also be a pedestrian connection between Subat and Hoover Forest Preserves. Cesich wished it could get done sooner. Klaas and HR Green gave a breakdown of the bidding process timing and total construction timing, which is expected to take about 30 months. Motion approved unanimously.
Klaas described an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) project that City of Yorkville is proposing, and is asking Kendall County to be a co-sponsor. The project would install a multi-use path along Fox Road between White Oak Way and Hoover Forest Preserve. Yorkville’s City Council would be addressing the application at their meeting tonight. Yorkville is asking for a letter of support from the County. The project could cost as much as $2 million and would have a 20% local share ($400,000), which is proposed to be split 50/50 City-County.
Cesich asked whether this would all be City sidewalk. Klaas indicated that the County would be involved with the initial construction, but the City would maintain after construction. The entire length of the project is in the city limits. Gryder asked whether we could exchange money for engineering; in other words, provide engineering for the project as our local share. Klaas didn’t believe he would be able to do that. Prochaska asked how much money was in the TAP Fund. Klaas said that the relatively large unobligated balance had been reduced down to nearly nothing because of all the grants given out last year; but since the County puts $50,000 into this fund annually, it might get built up again before this money would actually be needed. Gilmour wondered why the County would be involved with this project financially. She was also very concerned about the possibility of land acquisition in the area immediately west of White Oak Way. Prochaska described how the prospect of land acquisition, and the possibility of the use of eminent domain (condemnation) for trails gave him more heartburn than other public safety-type projects. He wondered if there was a way to determine ahead of time whether eminent domain would be needed. Klaas indicated there was really no way to determine this in advance. Gryder suggested tabling the matter, and discussing further with City of Yorkville. After further discussion, the committee was just not comfortable with preparing a letter of support for the ITEP application, and directed the County Engineer to notify the City that the Highway Committee just couldn’t come to a consensus so quickly on this project.
There are a couple proposed projects in Kendall County that will require the County Board to consider the naming or renaming of certain segments of highways. Prochaska discussed how the chairman of the Comprehensive Land Plan Committee had suggested that the entire Eldamain / Lisbon corridor be renamed to Lisbon Road. Prochaska was in favor of condensing all the names for this corridor. Gilmour asked what happens to people’s addresses when a road name is changed. Klaas discussed how this very same thing was done when Plainfield Road was changed to Ridge Road. Gryder noted similar changes for Old Grove Road and Old Ridge Road. Those individuals would have to change their address with the USPS. Prochaska suggested that Ill. Rte. 71 should be the dividing line. Everything south would be Lisbon Road. Everything north would be Eldamain Road. Klaas agreed, and pointed out that we want to intentionally differentiate the roadways at Route 71. North would be an 80,000# designated truck route, while south would be a more local road, where we wouldn’t want to invite thru-truck traffic. Committee then discussed whether Ashe Road should also get changed. Prochaska suggested that the County pass a resolution now that changes the name of the roadway, and that it wouldn’t take effect until the road has been reconstructed. Gilmour wondered how we could give people who live along the roadway a chance to have input on the matter. After discussion, the committee asked the County Engineer to send letter to those affected by the change, as well as preparing a resolution for the November meeting that would change the name of the roadway upon completion of the reconstruction.
The committee next talked about proposed road name changes for the Collins Road Extension project. Committee agreed that Collins Road should not change. The central question was whether Minkler Road should be changed to Orchard Road between Route 71 and the proposed roundabout. Prochaska supported the change at the roundabout; but there was some concern by Gryder and others that changing the name at the roundabout might create another level of confusion for drivers. Committee did not feel strongly one way or the other on this matter and did not want to take any action at this point.
Chairman Gryder reported that he walked around the proposed Eldamain Road corridor in the area where trees had been removed. Klaas described the tree removal efforts by Homer Tree Service. Everything went very well and much more quickly than anticipated.
Motion Prochaska; second Cesich, to forward Highway Department bills for the month of October in the amount of $1,306,509.97 to the Finance Committee for approval. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Cesich; second Prochaska, to adjourn the meeting at 4:26 P.M. Motion carried unanimously.
https://www.co.kendall.il.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=18376
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