Kendall County Times

Kendall County Highway Committee met Jan. 14.

Here is the agenda provided by the committee:

MEMBERS PRESENT: Jason Peterson, Dan Koukol, Scott Gengler & Zach Bachmann

STAFF PRESENT: Francis Klaas

ALSO PRESENT: PJ Fitzpatrick

The committee meeting convened at 3:30 P.M. with roll call of committee members. Shanley absent. Quorum established.

Motion Bachmann; second Koukol, to approve the agenda. Motion approved unanimously.

Motion Gengler; second Bachmann, to approve the Highway Committee minutes from November 12, 2024. Motion approved unanimously.

Motion Koukol; second Bachmann to recommend approval of a resolution providing for spring road posting of certain county highways. Klaas described how the County typically posts just 3 roads each year, including Plattville/Chicago, Whitewillow, and Van Emmon. Those roads have not been structurally improved to withstand year-round truck traffic, so they get posted each spring. Upon consideration, motion approved unanimously.

Motion Bachmann; second Koukol to recommend approval of an amendment #1 to professional services agreement with HR Green related to the Gates Creek culvert replacements increasing the professional services fee by an amount not to exceed $44,478.03. Koukol asked if the County had ever asked the Village of Oswego to participate monetarily in this project. Klaas indicated that he has had quite a bit of difficulty in coordinating this project with the Village, including considerable scrutiny of the hydraulics, lengthy delays in the review, among other things. He was also not so certain who to talk to at this point. Most of his coordination has been with the engineering department, and personnel have recently changed, which might explain some of the delays. He suggested that it might be more appropriate to approach this matter with the elected officials. Koukol also asked if the recent construction of the Gas-N-Wash at the NE corner of Orchard and Mill would have any effect on the project. Klaas stated that it would not. Klaas then showed the committee some exhibits and provided background on the motivation for the project. He indicated that this project, which was originally just to replace the 18” corrugated metal pipe with a new 36” culvert, has become much more complicated. It now involves additional culverts and storm sewer appurtenances at Mill Road, as well as land acquisition, and significant utility relocation and coordination. He fully supports approval of the amendment.

Koukol asked if the County needed permission from the Village to perform this work. Klaas thought that the County would need Village approval, since the storm sewers discharge into municipal open space controlled by the Village, as well as crossing a municipal street. Koukol also asked whether storm water would flood Fox Chase Subdivision when both the Village of Montgomery and Oswego had developed everything north of BNSF, and after we had made our storm sewer improvements under the railroad. Klaas stated that the improvements proposed by HR Green would only raise the 100-year flood event elevation south of BNSF by 0.1 feet. So the County’s proposed project should not have any significant impact on Fox Chase or anything else downstream. Koukol added that this project has been on the books for a very long time. Klaas concurred that the original analysis for the improvement was started somewhere back around 2008. He said that the Highway Department initiated the study to help alleviate flooding north of BNSF during major rainfall events, recognizing that in 1996, parts of Orchard Road were under water. He stated that it will be even more important to have this storm sewer improvement when the Village develops Tuscany Station, the cricket stadium, and other municipal developments. He added that he has been really surprised that the Village has not embraced the project, as it likely benefits them more than it does the County.

Koukol asked if the County could ask Montgomery to help with the cost of this project. Klaas thought it might be a little late in the game for that and added that Montgomery is not technically contiguous to the project. Koukol wondered if we would open bids without Oswego’s approval. Klaas stated that the County would wait for Oswego’s approval before taking it to a bid opening. He thought it might be helpful to get Oswego’s elected officials more involved to get approval. Koukol discussed some of the development around Karis, Walmart and others towards Route 30. Klaas indicated that the area around Walmart all drains west to the Blackberry Creek, whereas Karis does drain south towards the County’s pond and BNSF.

Bachmann thought that it just seems like a project that needs to be done. Klaas agreed. He said that, even if you’re not an engineer, it’s a no-brainer. Gengler asked where the additional funds would come from for the extra engineering costs. Klaas stated that it would come from the Transportation Sales Tax Fund, and since there were so many projects in that fund, the small increase in engineering fees would fit neatly into the budget. After consideration of all the information, the motion was approved unanimously by voice vote.

In Other Business, Gengler asked about the status of the Galena-Cannonball project. Klaas indicated that there was a significant amount of work to be completed, and likely wouldn’t be finished before the 4th of July. Committee discussed the alignment and jurisdiction of Gordon Road and reviewed aerial exhibits. Gordon Road will be temporarily directed onto Dickson Road until it is connected easterly at a later date.

Bachmann asked about the status of Minkler-Collins. Klaas stated that all the big items have been completed, which is why the road is open; but there will be landscaping and pavement markings completed in the spring. Koukol discussed how little traffic there appears to be on Collins Road. He travels the road regularly and he didn’t encounter a lot of traffic. Klaas agreed but felt that the numbers will change dramatically in coming years. PJ Fitzpatrick wondered how Ways or Google Maps are updated to show these new roadways that are open. Committee members discussed their own experiences with some of the wayfinding applications.

Motion Bachmann; second Gengler, to forward Highway Department bills for the month of January in the amount of $517,789.34 to the Finance Committee for approval. Motion approved unanimously.

Motion Gengler; second Koukol to go into Executive Session at 3:54 PM for the purpose of the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. Motion approved unanimously by roll call vote.

Motion Gengler; second Bachmann to adjourn the meeting at 4:02 PM. Motion carried unanimously.

Action Items

1. Resolution Providing for Spring Road Posting of Certain County Highways

2. Amendment #1 to Professional Services Agreement with HR Green related to the Gates Creek culvert replacements increasing the professional services fee by an amount not to exceed $44,478.03

https://www.kendallcountyil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/32172/638745165321621701