McLean County Transportation Committee met Dec. 3.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Transportation Committee of the McLean County Board met on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, Illinois.
Members Present: Chairman William Caisley Members Randall Martin, Elizabeth Johnston, Logan Smith, Gerald Thompson, Shayna Watchinski and William Friedrich
Members Absent: None
Other Members Present: None
Staff Members Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator, Mr. Eric Schmitt, Assistant County Administrator, Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator; Ms. Jessica Woods First Assistant State’s Attorney Civil Division, Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary
Department Heads Present: Mr. Jerry Stokes, County Engineer,
Others Present: Mr. Luke Hohulin, Assistant County Engineer
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Caisley at 8:00 a.m. and a quorum declared.
Chairman Caisley presented the minutes from the November 5, 2019 regular meeting for review and approval. Mr. Smith noted changes in attendance on the minutes.
Motion by Johnston/Friedrich to approve the minutes from the November 5, 2019 regular meeting as amended.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented the prepaid bills for review and approval in the amount of $494,406.77.
Motion by Martin/Smith to recommend payment of bills as submitted by the County Auditor in the amount of $494,406.77.
Motion carried.
Chairman Caisley confirmed no other appearances by members of the public or employees.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve a Local Public Agency Agreement for Federal Participation for Maitland Bridge Section 10-11127-00-BR, Dale Road District and a Bridge Construction Petition for Bridge Replacement for Maitland Bridge – Section 10-11127-00-BR, Dale Road District. Mr. Stokes indicated this is the last timber pile bridge in McLean County and that IDOT will pay 80% and the County and Township will each pay 10% of costs. Mr. Stokes showed the Committee photos of the project. Mr. Caisley asked if this had gone through the Historic Preservation System. Mr. Stokes indicated it had been approved. Mr. Thompson stated most of bridge looks modern. Mr. Stokes indicated they have done things to preserve it, but now will removed all timber, lower bridge and make water way wider. Ms. Johnston asked about timing. Mr. Stokes indicated project would start middle of April to first part of May. Mr. Friedrich asked about weight limit. Mr. Stokes indicated it was an 80,000 plus pound bridge.
Motion by Martin/Watchinski recommend approval of a Local Public Agency Agreement for Federal Participation for Maitland Bridge Section 10-11127-00- BR, Dale Road District and a Bridge Construction Petition for Bridge Replacement for Maitland Bridge – Section 10-11127-00-BR, Dale Road District
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve an Engineering Services Agreement – Hampton Lenzini & Renwick, Bridge and Box Culvert Inspection –Bright Stalk Wind Farm for inspection of bridges and culverts. Mr. Stokes indicated this wind farm is almost complete and Bright Stalk asked that a firm go out and make sure no additional damages needed to be fixed. Mr. Thompson asked process if they find damage. Mr. Stokes indicated damages and costs of repairs reported to Wind Farm and they pay for construction costs. Mr. Friedrich asked if County goes on inspections. Mr. Stokes indicated they do not. Mr. Thompson asked if liability of Wind Farm complete after inspections and if we are ok with that. Mr. Stokes confirmed that Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick are there on our behalf, so we are comfortable with their determination. Mr. Caisley stated this is necessary in case there is something that happens afterward so we can say all in good order before wind farm came in. Mr. Friedrich asked him to confirm this firm works for us. Mr. Stokes confirmed and stated that Mr. Hohulin had also been out to look over bridges and culverts.
Motion by Johnston/Thompson to recommend approval of an Engineering Services Agreement – Hampton Lenzini & Renwick, Bridge and Box Culvert Inspection –Bright Stalk Wind Farm.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to update the County Ordinance Imposing Weight Limitations. Mr. Caisley asked why we are updating. Mr. Stokes indicated laws changed in 2018 and went over changes with the Committee. He stated in 2019 another law eliminated class 3 truck routes and reduced route classes to 3. He went over changes and indicated ordinance updated all of our 80,000lb routes. Mr. Stokes stated that in the future we will have to take this change into account when updating intersections based on new turning radius requirements. Mr. Caisley asked if the State would be assisting in payment of upgrades. Mr. Stokes indicated they are still following up on that part and future requirements.
Motion by Martin/Thompson to recommend approval to update the County Ordinance Imposing Weight Limitations.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley asked the Committee if they were ok taking the weight limit resolutions together. The Committee concurred. Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve Weight Limit Resolutions for Arrowsmith Road, CH 15, Downs Road, CH 36, Lexington-Leroy Road, CH 21, White Oak Road, CH 70, and Danvers-Yuton Road, CH 18. Mr. Stokes indicated these move some routes from class 3 to class 2 and added resolutions not listed at 80,000 lb. routes before. Mr. Caisley asked if enforcement of these roads had been discussed with the Sheriff. Mr. Stokes indicated they would discuss at the weight limit meeting in January. Mr. Caisley asked if there would be additional burden regarding enforcement. Mr. Stokes indicated it would not.
Motion by Thompson/Smith to recommend approval of Weight Limit Resolutions for Arrowsmith Road, CH 15, Downs Road, CH 36, Lexington- Leroy Road, CH 21, White Oak Road, CH 70, and Danvers-Yuton Road, CH 18.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance – McLean County Bridge Fund 0121. Mr. Stokes indicated some of the projects designs work for 2019 and 2020 overlapped. He went over projects and timing of those projects. He stated this cleans up those line items to put funds in engineering line. Mr. Thompson asked if expenses from previous years were down since these carried over to this year. Mr. Stokes confirmed.
Motion by Martin/Watchinski to recommend approval of an Emergency Appropriation Ordinance – McLean County Bridge Fund 0121.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve an Engineering Services Agreement - Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Takiff Bridge, Empire Township – 19-16137-00- BR. Mr. Stokes indicated this was for design work for next Township bridge project, provided pictures of the bridge and went over the project. Ms. Johnston asked age of the bridge and if it had reached life span. Mr. Stokes indicated he did not have a specific date but was built in the 1950’s or 1960’s and had reached it life span as there is not enough reinforcement in deck, so posted at a lower weight rating. Mr. Stokes indicated they are considering working with IDOT to utilize this bridge as a test bridge their load weight system. Mr. Friedrich asked about average cost of bridge projects. Mr. Stokes indicated Maitland is $900,000 as it is higher out of the ground and had more road work and this would be probably about $600,000 – $700,000. Mr. Caisley asked about the hourly rate for Maitland Bridge compared to the Takiff Bridge. Mr. Stokes indicated Maitland based on 2019 rates and Takiff is based on 2020 rates. Ms. Rodriguez asked if there is a difference between design and inspection. Mr. Stokes confirmed there is some. Mr. Caisley asked if local engineers were considered and asked about their pricing. Mr. Stokes indicated these projects go out for bid. Mr. Caisley asked if we could do this cheaper in-house. Mr. Stokes stated we could not.
Motion by Martin/Watchinski to recommend approval of an Engineering Services Agreement - Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Takiff Bridge, Empire Township – 19-16137-00-BR.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley asked if there was a need to go into closed session pursuant to section 2 (c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity. Mr. Schmitt indicated that historically they have gone into closed session to discuss the County Engineer’s performance evaluation and then come out to vote on the salary. Chairman Caisley stated there was a motion but asked if they wanted to go into the closed session as was the custom but not necessary. Mr. Martin indicated he would like to go into closed session and so the question was called by the Chairman.
Motion by Martin/Thompson to go into closed session pursuant to section 2 (c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)) to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee of the public body or against legal counsel for the public body to determine its validity.
Motion Carried. Members Thompson and Smith voted no.
Transportation committee entered closed session at 8:35 a.m. Transportation Committee returned to open session at 8:43 a.m.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve a Motor Fuel Tax Resolution.
Motion by Thompson/Johnston to recommend approval of a Motor Fuel Tax Resolution.
Motion Carried.
Mr. Caisley indicated there was a truck driver position filled under the purview of the Transportation Committee. Mr. Caisley asked if this was to replace a former employee. Mr. Stokes confirmed an employee left to take another position. Mr. Caisley asked him to confirm not adding a position. Mr. Stokes indicated they were down this position and Mr. Bundy’s position, but they filled Mr. Bundy’s position yesterday so were back to full capacity. Mr. Thompson asked how staff was doing after the accident. Mr. Stokes indicated they are doing well. Mr. Stokes also provided an update on citations from accident, training that was occurring and policies that had been put in place. Mr. Friedrich asked if they are ready for winter and had temporaries signed on. Mr. Stokes indicated the two temporaries are in place and one was a return employee. Mr. Friedrich questioned only two temporaries. Mr. Stokes went over winter road plowing coverage. Mr. Caisley asked if there were any questions, hearing none, he asked Mr. Stokes about project updates.
Mr. Stokes provided pictures and updates on the Money Creek II Bridge and Old Colonial Road projects.
Chairman Caisley asked if there was anything else to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, he adjourned the meeting at 8:52 a.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7063
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