Kendall County Highway Department Committee met Oct. 12.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Gryder, Brian DeBolt & Scott Gengler
STAFF PRESENT: Michele Riley and Francis Klaas
ALSO PRESENT: Ryan Sikes
The committee meeting convened at 3:30 P.M. with roll call of committee members. Cesich and Kellogg absent. Quorum established.
Motion DeBolt; second Gengler, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion Gengler; second DeBolt, to approve the Highway Committee meeting minutes from September 14, 2021. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion Gengler; second DeBolt, to recommend approval of an ordinance amending the KC-TAP to provide for annual transfer of $75,000 from the Transportation Sales Tax Fund. Klaas provided a brief summary of the Transportation Alternatives Program, which is used to construct multi-use paths and sidewalks along State and County Highways. After reviewing the old resolution, however, he found that there was no specific amount listed for transfer in that document. Instead, it simply states that the Board would approve any transfer prior to December 1st of each year. So Klaas recommended that the old resolution could stay exactly as it is; and the Board could decide the amount of transfer each year as part of the budget process. The transfer for FY 22 is currently budgeted at $75,000. Gryder pointed out that the original document caps the awards to a maximum of $50,000. Klaas stated that the State’s Attorney office has previously indicated that, since this is a county ordinance, the County Board has the authority to increase that amount if it sees fit, and has already done so on several occasions. Upon further review, Gengler withdrew his motion and DeBolt withdrew his second. Committee felt no action was currently deemed necessary on this matter.
Motion Gengler; second DeBolt, to recommend an ordinance for the establishment of altered speed zones on various Oswego Township Roads. Klaas reminded the committee that the County Board has statutory authority to set speed limits on all County Highways, as well as all Township Roads. Gryder provided an example in Little Rock Township where the County had to address a speed limit on Millhurst Road. DeBolt asked about signing on township roads. Klaas said that the county engineer has to approve new sign installations on township roads. Claude Ainsworth, the new Oswego Township Highway Commissioner, would like to set 25 MPH speed limits for all streets in Boulder Hill Subdivision. Klaas stated that there were numerous roads in Boulder Hill that extend from the Village (Oswego) limits into the unincorporated subdivision. The Village has 25 MPH speed limits, while the township has 30 MPH limits. So the two are inconsistent. The Highway Commissioner would like to make the entire area consistent at 25 MPH. In a similar way, Woolley Road has 45 MPH speed coming out of the Village of Oswego, while the township has no posting, meaning the speed limit, by law, would be 55 MPH. Also, Simons Road coming out of the Village of Plainfield has a 45 MPH limit, and the township has 55 MPH limit. Mr. Ainsworth would also like to make these consistent at 45 MPH. After consideration, the committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of this ordinance to the County Board.
Motion DeBolt; second Gengler, to recommend approval of an agreement for right-of-way consulting services with Mathewson Land Services in the amount of $133,250 for work on the N. Johnson Street Project. This project begins near the grain elevator in Newark, and extends northerly for approximately ½ mile. This specific section of road is narrow and has poor drainage. The improvements are rather complicated, and will involve the relocation of many utilities to provide a wider pavement with safety shoulders and sidewalks, as well as improved storm water conveyance, including offsite drainage towards the same ravine that goes past the Newark sewer lagoon. Land acquisition includes 19 different parcels. Proposed agreement includes services for appraisals, negotiations, closing and recording fees, as well as project management. Klaas stated that this agreement is very similar to the recently-approved Collins Road agreement, but it does not include review appraisals, so there is significant savings in that regard. DeBolt asked when this work would commence. Klaas indicated that engineering, land acquisition and utility relocation will happen in 2002, and construction is scheduled for 2023. Motion approved unanimously.
Gryder reported that the first steel beams had been set on the Eldamain Bridge, with more to be set later in the week. He also reported that they may begin construction of the roundabout yet this year. Committee then discussed function of some local roundabouts and the improved safety that can be realized.
Klaas reported that the River Road Bridge is open. Caton Farm Bridge is expected to be opened in about 2 weeks. Fox River Drive Bridge was opened about a month ago. DeBolt asked if the blinker stops signs were ordered. Klaas stated that he had ordered 4 of them and they should be delivered this week. DeBolt also asked if the County could use COVID money for purchase of these traffic control devices. Gryder thought that would be a good question for Scott Koeppel. Klaas added that blinker stop signs are effective now because you don’t see them very often. If the County installed these at every intersection, they could lose some of their effectiveness.
Motion DeBolt; second Gengler, to forward Highway Department bills for the month of September in the amount of $1,252,004.98 to the Finance Committee for approval. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Kellogg; second Gengler, to adjourn the meeting at 4:02 P.M. Motion carried unanimously.
https://www.co.kendall.il.us/home/showpublisheddocument/21807/637717021898930000
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