Kendall County Highway Committee met Feb. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
MEMBERS PRESENT: Scott Gryder, Amy Cesich, Matt Kellogg, Brian DeBolt & Scott Gengler
STAFF PRESENT: Michele Riley, John Burscheid, and Francis Klaas
ALSO PRESENT: PJ Fitzpatrick
The committee meeting convened at 3:40 P.M. with roll call of committee members. All present. Quorum established.
Motion Cesich; second DeBolt, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion Kellogg; second DeBolt, to approve the Highway Committee meeting minutes from January 11, 2022. Motion approved unanimously.
Motion DeBolt; second Cesich to recommend approval of a Resolution for Maintenance Under the Illinois Highway Code appropriating $400,000 for the installation of recessed pavement markings on Little Rock Road and Galena Road. Klaas reported that pavement markings are one of the most inexpensive things you can do to improve safety. Both Little Rock and Galena Road are heavily traveled routes. Both roads would be improved in their entirety, with the exception of Galena west of Little Rock. That portion of Galena was recently paved and has new pavement markings. DeBolt asked when that westerly portion might get recessed markings, and Klaas thought the current markings would last about 3 or 4 years. Kellogg asked if the work would be bid. He also asked if $400,000 would be enough with rising prices. Klaas indicated that the project would be competitively bid, and thought the $400,000 should cover it. Cesich wondered if the County has ever used motor fuel taxes for this type of work. Klaas stated that we had not used MFT funds for this type of work; but IDOT had informed the County that recessed pavement markings are considered general maintenance-type work, and so this was the appropriate resolution to use in order to obligate these funds. Gengler asked when the work would be done. Klaas stated that the bid opening would be on April 1st, and work would be completed this calendar year. Gryder asked if there were multiple contractors that do this type of work. Klaas stated that there were several bids on the Plainfield Road project; so he expected a good, competitive bid on this project. Cesich asked if the recessed markings were more expensive. Klaas indicated that it was significantly more expensive to install the recessed markings, but they could last 3 to 5 times longer. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Kellogg; second Cesich to recommend approval of a preliminary engineering services agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. in the amount of $38,942 to analyze traffic and recommend improvement alternatives for Plainfield Road between Grove Road and Collins Road. Gryder described the limits and goals for the project. He reported that the County and the Village were working cooperatively on this project, and wanted to look particularly at the Woolley Road intersection. Gryder asked what the daily traffic was on Plainfield Road. Klaas reported that it was approximately 12,000, and even a little bit more than that as you get closer to Grove Road. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion DeBolt; second Gengler to recommend approval of a preliminary engineering services agreement with Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Inc. in the amount of $341,555 to provide all preliminary engineering for intersection improvements at Galena, Cannonball, and Gordon Roads. Klaas described how Cannonball Trail and Dickson Road are offset intersections with Galena Road. The planned improvement would consolidate the intersections at Cannonball Trail; and the north leg would be called Gordon Road. It would temporarily end at Dickson Road under this project, but would eventually be extended north and east to connect to existing Gordon Road in Montgomery. Klaas also reported that this project if fully funded in the Multi Year Plan, and that Montgomery would pay their proportionate share of engineering and construction for the project per a proposed IGA, although said IGA has not been finalized yet. Gryder wondered if this intersection was one that would be considered for a roundabout. Klaas stated that the type of improvement will be analyzed; but didn’t think that a roundabout would be the recommended improvement, due to the amount of traffic. He thought the recommended improvement would be a traffic signal. DeBolt was concerned about stopping traffic on Galena. Klaas stated that this will be the third traffic signal on Galena in recent years; one was just completed at Concord Drive, the traffic signal at Kennedy will be constructed in 2023, and this improvement is scheduled for construction in 2024. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Cesich; second Gengler to recommend approval of a petition from Seward Road District for County aid to build or repair bridge, culvert or drainage structure on O’Brien Road in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Klaas described the project as a concrete box culvert replacement on O’Brien Road just north of Bell Road. The proposed culvert is not considered a bridge; so it is ineligible for Township Bridge Program funding. In cases like this, the Road District would typically petition the County for aid. The anticipated cost of the entire project is $200,000. The county’s share, if approved, would be $100,000 (50%). Gengler asked why it wasn’t eligible for township bridge funding. Klaas stated that the structure would have to have a span of at least 20’ to be considered a bridge. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Under Chairman’s Report, Gryder reported a recent meeting with the Village of Oswego to discuss the Collins Road Extension project, as well as the Plainfield Road engineering study. The Village has made contact with a couple of the big property owners along Minkler and Collins Road. They are not opposed to the project. Land acquisition efforts are really gearing up. Pre-final plans will be available in the next 60 days. Bid opening for the project is anticipated in March of 2023. DeBolt asked what the property along the corridor was worth. Klaas reported that the farmland was appraised at around $19,000 per acre. Kellogg reported that a property in that area just sold for $20,000 per acre.
Gryder asked Klaas to give update on construction of the Eldamain Bridge. Klaas reported that there was only a single gap left for the structural steel. Contractor will be setting those last 8 beams this week. Deck forming will follow in March, and first deck pours could begin in April or May. Project could be open to traffic by the end of 2022.
Gryder reported that he met with the Village of Plainfield last week. They had indicated that they were reviewing their comprehensive plan; and one of the first things they would do was to amend the zoning around Ridge & 143rd Street to commercial and industrial. Gryder reminded the committee that engineering work had just begun on Ridge Road between Holt Road and Black Road, with the idea that the Ridge Road corridor would ultimately serve communities from Plainfield Road down to I-80, with more commercial and industrial-type uses.
DeBolt inquired about the cost of a 2-lane road. Klaas indicated that for new construction, it would be about $2 million per mile. Committee discussed costs of road construction.
Motion DeBolt; second Cesich to forward Highway Department bills for the month of February in the amount of $69,957.95 to the Finance Committee for approval. Gengler inquired about the payment to Nancy Jensen. Klaas stated that this was payment for new right-of-way on the Galena-Kennedy intersection project. Gryder inquired about the $7,000 bill from EEI for Johnson Road. Klaas stated that this was simply a progress bill for engineering on that project, noting the total engineering cost of around $200,000 for that project. By roll call vote, motion approved unanimously.
Motion Cesich; second Gengler, to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 P.M. Motion carried unanimously.
https://www.kendallcountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/22941/637819824025870000
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