McLean County Transportation Committee met May 5.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
The Transportation Committee of the McLean County Board met at 8:00 a.m. in Room 404 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 (via remote attendance)
Members Absent: None
Other Members Present: None
Staff Members Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator, Ms. Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator, Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary, Ms. Jessica Woods Assistant State’s Attorney Civil Division (remote attendance)
Department Heads Present: Mr. Jerry Stokes, County Engineer (remote attendance)
Others Present: Mr. Luke Hohulin, Assistant County Engineer; Ms. Laura Dick, Show Bus Director (remote attendance)
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Caisley at 8:00 a.m. and a quorum declared.
Chairman Caisley presented a transfer and prepaid bills in the amount of $834,085.73 for review and approval.
Motion by Watchinski/Friedrich to recommend payment of bills as submitted by the County Auditor in the amount of $834,085.73.
Motion carried.
Chairman Caisley presented the minutes from the April 7, 2020 regular meeting for review and approval.
Motion by Johnston/Martin to approve the minutes from the April 7, 2020 regular meeting.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley confirmed no other appearances by members of the public or employees.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve Capital Assistance Grant – Rural Public Transportation Service (SHOWBUS). Ms. Dick indicated this grant was released some time ago through rebuild Illinois and while they do not know the future of this grant, they wanted to still turn in the application.
Motion by Smith/Friedrich recommend approval of Capital Assistance Grant – Rural Public Transportation Service (SHOWBUS)
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve the April 28, 2020 Construction Letting.
Motion by Martin/Friedrich to recommend approval the April 28, 2020 Construction Letting.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve Equipment Purchase. Mr. Stokes indicated these are replacement vehicles from the State bid for vehicles traded in last month. Ms. Johnston asked if they had already been purchased. Mr. Stokes indicated they had not. Ms. Johnston asked if these could be purchased in future instead of this year so we can save money to be utilized in another area since we do not know the outfall from COVID- 19. Mr. Stokes indicated service truck has many miles and is driven all the time and the other is a dump truck that is diesel that is being replaced with gasoline to make it more efficient. He indicated there are other projects where they received lower prices so they are in a good place with funding this year and that would just be pushing a needed expense to the future.
Motion by Smith/Friedrich to recommend approval of Equipment Purchase. Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve a Matching Fund Resolution, Ropp Road (CH 39) – Section 20-00056-10-SC. Mr. Stokes indicated this is a pavement preservation and went over materials and how long doing this project would add to the life of the road.
Motion by Johnston/Watchinski to recommend approval of a Matching Fund Resolution, Ropp Road (CH 39) – Section 20-00056-10-SC
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve a Resolution Authorizing County Engineer to Sign Joint Agreements with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Motion by Johnston/Friedrich to recommend approval of Resolution Authorizing County Engineer to Sign Joint Agreements with the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve a Bridge Construction Petition for Joint Culvert Liner #1 and #2, Old Town Road District. Mr. Stokes went over location for projects and the scope of the projects. Mr. Thompson asked him to go over how the liner system works. Mr. Caisley went over general concept. Mr. Hohulin indicated the liner is used with a resin that reacts with the liner and cures in about 45 minutes to a few hours. He stated that that would lose about an inch but smooth walls versus corrugated pipe would allow it to handle the same amount of water. Mr. Thompson asked about structure. Mr. Hohulin indicated there is about a 75-year life that assumes 100% deterioration of the metal pipe, so the liner becomes the culvert. Mr. Caisley indicated this process had been utilized in other areas and been successful.
Motion by Friedrich/Thompson to recommend approval of a Bridge Construction Petition for Joint Culvert Liner #1 and #2, Old Town Road District
Motion Carried.
Chairman Caisley presented for action a request to approve a Bridge Construction Petition for Joint Culvert Replacement #1, Randolph Road District. Mr. Stokes went over location and scope of the project. Mr. Friedrich asked about responsibility for this project. Mr. Stokes indicated it is a Township road, so Township comes to County and County evaluates project and considers the Township’s EAV. Then if the project is 22% of their EAV it qualifies for a joint culvert where the County covers 50% and Township 50% but if does not qualify then the Township pays for the entire project. He indicated there is a statute that requires them to handle it in this manner.
Motion by Friedrich/Smith to recommend approval of a Bridge Construction Petition for Joint Culvert Replacement #1, Randolph Road District.
Motion Carried.
Mr. Stokes indicated there were no recent positions filled at the Highway Department.
Mr. Stokes updated the Committee on projects that had been started including the Gridley Road which is a mill and resurface project and the Colfax-Weston Road Project that should be complete in the next month. He also updated them on the Bike Trail and replacement of the last timber pile bridge in the County.
Mr. Stokes also indicated that the Storm Water Education report was in the packet showing what the Ecology Action Center had done with outreach in the last quarter.
Under Other Business Mr. Stokes discussed funding for the Highway Department. He indicated he was not sure how Motor Fuel Tax will affect them over the next three months. He said they had another project they were considering but did not have the staff and because of funding they will not do that project this year. He also indicated they received word last week IDOT s releasing funds from part of the state’s budget last year that included a bonding component for the capital program - a 6-year capital program 1.5 Billion total. Mr. Stokes indicated half of that is going to the Counties and Townships and other half is going to Municipalities and Cities which means an additional 2 million dollars a year for next 3 years we will receive to help offset some of the lost MFT revenue, then moving forward it will be utilized on projects. He indicated this is part of the rebuild Illinois program and if an entity receives over 45,000 the funds must be spent on a bondable project. He indicated that is why they will use it on reconstruction projects that are going to have long service life. Mr. Stokes indicated only one township that might reach 45,000 and would have to work with them on projects the funds could be used for.
Ms. Johnston asked how the prices of oil will impact our projects in the next year or two. Mr. Stokes indicated he talked with oil suppliers and they stored from last year and this Fall they will probably go back up and refill tanks at the Fall price. He also indicated oil County uses is the last thing that comes from the refiners so it is the most expensive they do so he did not feel cost will come down much if at all for the Highway Department.
Mr. Friedrich asked about Township that might reach the 45,000 limit. Mr. Stokes discussed the township and possible amount for that township. He also went over a couple of other Townships that might get close.
Chairman Caisley asked if there was anything else to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, he adjourned the meeting at 8:34 a.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7316
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