Kendall County Highway Committee met Nov. 9.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Gryder, Amy Cesich, 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. Kellogg absent. Quorum established.
Motion DeBolt; second Gengler, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion Cesich; second DeBolt, to approve the Highway Committee meeting minutes from October 12, 2021. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion DeBolt; second Cesich, to recommend approval of the low bid from Grainco FS, Inc. in the amount of $97,280; including 15,000 gallons of unleaded gas at $2.648/gallon and 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel at $2.878/gallon. Klaas provided a history of fuel bids at the Highway Department. The annual bid in November has typically provided very competitive pricing for the coming year. This is the first time in many years that Grainco FS, Inc. has been the low bidder. Klaas indicated that they have good fuels and great service; so he had no reservations about recommending their low bid for approval by the Board. Gryder asked about the bidder from Indiana. Klaas stated that this is the first time an out-of-state bidder has submitted a bid. They may have a local distribution point; but he suggested that next year’s bid would include a requirement that bidders have an Illinois business office. Gryder asked if County Engineer could do a little more investigation on where the Indiana bidder has offices and distribution centers. Gengler asked if Feece Oil Company ever bids. Klaas stated that they have bid in the past, but have never been the low bidder. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Cesich; second DeBolt, to recommend approval of an intergovernmental agreement between Kendall County, the Village of Minooka, and Township of Seward Road District relating to the installation of traffic signal lights at Ridge Road and Holt Road Section 21-00163-00-TL. This IGA identifies that the County will pay 50% of the cost, while both Village of Minooka and Seward Township will pay 25% each. Cesich asked if the State’s Attorney Office had reviewed the agreement. Klaas stated that the SAO and Minooka’s attorney had worked out all the details of the agreement. Other agencies have already signed the IGA, and it is awaiting approval by the County Board. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion DeBolt; second Cesich, to recommend approval of the Kendall County Long Range Transportation Plan. Committee members reviewed the plan. Cesich asked about changes to the Plan. Klaas indicated that both the Long Range Plan and 5-Year Plan had been updated to direct more money at the Ridge Road corridor, as previously directed by the Committee. The Draft Plan has been posted on the County’s website. He also advised the Committee that a copy of the Plan has to be submitted to Illinois Department of Transportation before the end of the year.
Cesich and DeBolt asked about specific intersection improvements programmed for next year, which are identified on Exhibit 6 in the Plan. DeBolt also confirmed that all of Eldamain Road is under the jurisdiction of the County. Gengler asked about Ashe Road, at the north end of Eldamain; said road being under the jurisdiction of Bristol Township. Gryder noted that the Plan includes widening the Orchard Road Bridge to 4 lanes. Klaas stated that this will undoubtedly be required, as traffic numbers continue to rise over this structure. Gryder also pointed out that the Collins Road Extension will add to the future need for a 4-lane bridge. Gryder also asked about the bridge replacements on Caton Farm Road; and which ones had been built and which ones still needed to be built. Exhibit 6 in the plan accurately depicts structures that still need to be replaced. After consideration of the Plan, motion approved unanimously.
Under Chairman’s Report, Gryder advised that he had a meeting with the CMAP Executive Director. They discussed the post-pandemic traffic issues. Metra ridership is way down. Bus ridership is back to near normal. When suburbanites do drive downtown, there is still a lot of congestion. CMAP continues to look for more paths and green spaces. Remote work will continue to be a big thing, so improved broadband availability will be important. Klaas asked if the decline in Metra ridership will have an impact on the idea of Metra rail in Kendall County. Gryder believes it matters to the Metra Board. They are having a hard time with the idea of any expansion. DeBolt asked if Kendall County was in line for any of the Federal infrastructure money. No one knew the answer to that question.
Klaas provided update on the recent TAP Grant to the KCFPD for multi-use path along Route 71. Recent changes to how State projects are funded will eliminate any local participation for paths and sidewalks, beginning in 2022. So the $76,000 TAP Grant will not be needed for that
project, and can be kept in the fund balance for future projects. Cesich asked if the Forest Preserve could apply for some other project. Klaas suggested that the multi-use path connecting Hoover Forest Preserve to Fox River Bluffs Preserve would be a great project. A new round of funding opportunity will be published soon, and all agencies in Kendall County will have an opportunity to apply for the approximate $150,000 in available funds.
Eldamain Road Project is continuing. Project was started just 8 months ago, and is already 60% complete. DeBolt asked if they would get all the structural steel set across the Fox River this year. Klaas did not think that they would get it all done this year. Land acquisition efforts continue on Collins Road Extension Project. No parcels have been closed yet. The process is much more difficult on that project because of the federal money involved in the construction.
Motion Cesich; second Gengler, to forward Highway Department bills for the month of November in the amount of $756,099.51 to the Finance Committee for approval. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Cesich; second DeBolt, to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 P.M. Motion carried unanimously.
https://www.co.kendall.il.us/home/showpublisheddocument/22361/637771734352400000
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