McLean County Times

McLean County Board Land Use Committee met April 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the McLean County Board met at 8:00 a.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, Illinois.

Members Present: Chairman James Soeldner, Members William Friedrich, Gerald Thompson, Lea Cline, Shayna Watchinski, Jim Rogal and Beverly Bell

Members Absent: None

Other Members Present: None

Staff Members Present: Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Anthony Grant, Assistant County Administrator; Christopher Spanos, First Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division, Ashley Scarborough, Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division; Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary

Department Heads Present: Jerry Stokes, County Engineer

Others Present: Luke Hohulin, Assistant County Engineer The meeting was called to order by Chairman Soeldner at 8:00 a.m. and a quorum declared.

Chairman Soeldner presented the March 1, 2022, Land Use and Transportation Committee regular meeting minutes for approval.

Motion by Watchinski/Cline to approve the March 1, 2022, Land Use and Transportation Committee regular meeting minutes.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Soeldner presented prepaid bills in the amount of $1,274.10 for Building and Zoning and $357,186.69 for Highway.

Motion by Rogal/Friedrich to recommend payment of bills as presented.  

Motion carried.

Chairman Soeldner confirmed with Cassy Taylor there were no appearances by members of the public or employees.

Chairman Soeldner welcomed to the Administration office Mr. Anthony Grant as the new Assistant County Administrator and Ms. Ashley Scarborough as the new Assistant State’s Attorney for the Civil Division. 

Chairman Soeldner indicated Mr. Phil Dick was not present as there were no action items to be presented. He asked the Committee to submit any questions they might have to Mr. Dick or Administration. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve a Resolution for the March 23, 2022, Construction Letting. Mr. Stokes went over the projects involved in this letting. 

Motion by Cline/Thompson to recommend approval of a Resolution for the March 23, 2022, Construction Letting. 

Motion Carried. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve a Resolution to Establish a No Parking Zone on County Highway 67 (Ford Street / Gridley Road). Mr. Stokes showed pictures of the area near the cemetery where individuals tended to park. He noted the no passing zone in the same area made parking there dangerous for oncoming traffic. Ms. Cline asked who would pay for the signs and who would enforce. Mr. Stokes noted the Village would pay for the signs, the Highway department would install them, and then the Village and the County could enforce. Ms. Bell asked why asphalt was poured along that stretch of road in first place and she asked if area was being used as overflow parking during funerals. Mr. Stokes indicated curb was there to help with slope into the cemetery and drainage. He noted on a map the parking available in cemetery and indicated overflow parking on the road was not needed. Ms. Bell asked if there had been a lot of accidents in area and if there was a lot of farm equipment traveling on this road. Mr. Stokes indicated they were looking to be proactive and prevent accidents. He also confirmed farm equipment did utilize this road. Mr. Soeldner asked if funeral homes could remind people they were not allowed to park there during a funeral. Mr. Stokes indicated cars were parking there when individuals came to tend to grave sites and not necessarily during funerals.

Motion by Watchinski/Thompson to recommend approval of a Resolution to Establish a No Parking Zone on County Highway 67 (Ford Street / Gridley Road). 

Motion Carried. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve a Resolution requesting consent to the Reappointment of the Incumbent as County Engineer. Mr. Stokes indicated his term would be up for renewal in in August with IDOT and this consent was needed to start the process. He noted he had asked IDOT if their form could be done at the same time a resolution went through the County Board, but IDOT indicated they needed this up to 100 days prior to the Board voting on his reappointment. Mr. Stokes went over process should the Board want to submit additional names to IDOT.

Motion by Cline/Watchinski to recommend approval of a Resolution Requesting consent to the Reappointment of the Incumbent as County Engineer.

Motion Carried. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve an Engineering Services Agreement with Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick for Seegmiller II Bridge, Yates Road District, Section 22-31138-00-BR. Mr. Stokes went over project, noted timber abutments and settlement and indicated this is agreement was to start engineering process and work would be done in 2024. Mr. Soeldner asked if they would be widening bridge. Mr. Stokes indicated they might widen it a little and then discussed possible options. Ms. Cline asked how many bridges that utilized wooden structures of some kind remained in the County. Mr. Stokes noted differences between timber pile where structure was in water would rot out and timber abutment. He noted no timber pile on County roads. He stated he was not sure how many timber abutments there were in the county. He noted there were about 4 or 5 in Yates township. Ms. Cline indicated she had received information about available grants to replace timber bridges and asked if they could look into those to see if some of our projects could utilize those funding opportunities. Ms. Bell asked about the farmers being able to get to and from fields. Mr. Stokes indicated they would still be able to get to their field and noted other routes that could be utilized one mile north or south. Mr. Soeldner noted there was not a lot of traffic on this road. Mr. Stokes confirmed.

Motion by Watchinski/Friedrich to recommend approval of an Engineering Services Agreement with Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick for Seegmiller II Bridge, Yates Road District, Section 22-31138-00-BR.

Motion Carried. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve an Engineering Services Agreement with Cummins Engineering for Meiners II Bridge, Anchor Road District, Section 21- 02124-00-BR. Mr. Stokes indicated this bridge was scheduled for this year where they planned to put in a double box culvert. He noted they were asking for outside assistance with this project as they had a staff member leave and had not been able to replace them. Mr. Stokes noted that Cummins did the design work and this would have them do the onsite inspections. Mr. Stokes went over funding for this requesting including 80% from township bridge fund, 10% from township funds and 10% from County funds.

Motion by Watchinski/Cline to recommend approval of an Engineering Services Agreement with Cummins Engineering for Meiners II Bridge, Anchor Road District, Section 21-02124-00-BR. 

Motion Carried. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve a Supplemental Resolution in Anticipation of Township Bridge Funds. Mr. Stokes indicated this request was due to timing of receipt of funds. He stated they would not receive funds until September, and this would allow them to proceed with work and then reimburse the county bridge fund upon receipt of funds in September. Mr. Soeldner asked if there were any bridges in wind farm areas. Mr. Stokes confirmed there were not. 

Motion by Watchinski/Thompson to recommend approval of a Supplemental Resolution in Anticipation of Township Bridge Funds.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve a Bridge Construction Petition for a Joint Culvert Replacement #1, Allin Road District. Mr. Stokes noted three road culverts but water still goes over the road. He went over project to try to help with water drainage including pipes and raising the road. Mr. Stokes noted the highway department would do the work. Mr. Soeldner noted this project was close to Olympia and asked if work would be done over the summer. Mr. Stokes confirmed but also indicated this was a road that did not have a lot of traffic. Mr. Soeldner asked if this was part of a drainage district and if so did we consult with them. Mr. Stokes indicated this was not but that when a project does involve a drainage district they do consult with them.

Motion by Watchinski/Cline to recommend approval of a Bridge Construction Petition for a Joint Culvert Replacement #1, Allin Road District. 

Motion Carried. 

Chairman Soeldner presented for action a request to approve a Letter of Intent with Illinois Department of Transportation. He noted this would involve the overpass at Carlock. He provided history regarding jurisdiction of this location and other approaches on County roads to interstate overpasses. Mr. Stokes indicated IDOT wants to pay for design, construction and resurface and then transfer jurisdiction to the County for maintenance of the road up to the bridge itself in the future. Mr. Stokes showed pictures where the County’s jurisdiction would be and where the State would still have jurisdiction of the bridge. Mr. Stokes noted that work would be done in 2023 or 2024. Mr. Soeldner asked if we agree to do this could the County patch holes before. Mr. Stokes indicated he felt they could probably fill in holes. Mr. Stokes also provided history on maintenance of ramps on and off the Interstates. Mr. Soeldner asked about other counties’ agreements with the State. Mr. Stokes indicated most other counties have similar agreements to the one the State is proposing for Carlock. Mr. Friedrich asked about timing on repairs to the service road in Downs. Mr. Stokes confirmed that road is clearly in IDOT jurisdiction. Mr. Stokes noted the State keeps telling them it is in the five-year plan. Mr. Stokes indicated they could talk to the State about them fixing and then possibly the township taking over. Mr. Friedrich asked about a bridge in Downs and Mr. Stokes noted they were told that was in the five-year plan as well. Mr. Friedrich asked them to reaffirm with the State, that roads in Downs are in disrepair and need to be addressed. Mr. Stokes indicated he would follow up.

Motion by Friedrich/Thompson to recommend approval of a Letter of Intent with Illinois Department of Transportation 

Motion Carried. 

Mr. Stokes provided updates about projects there were starting, including bridge near Stanford and the Meadows Road project. He also mentioned the White Oak Road project scheduled to start the first part of May.

Mr. Soeldner asked about the Sapphire Sky windfarm project. Mr. Stokes indicated weekly meetings have started and noted the windfarm company is in discussions with townships. Mr. Thompson asked about signs on Sabina Road. Mr. Stokes noted signs were put in to protect drop off and would be removed when put in more dirt. Mr. Thompson asked if all the previous issues with windfarms had been resolved. Mr. Stokes provided update on all windfarm projects and issue resolutions for those projects. 

Mr. Friedrich asked about engineer vacancy. Mr. Stokes indicated they had listed for month but had not received any applicants. He noted they readvertised for both a civil engineer I and II. He noted it is currently a tough market. 

Mr. Friedrich asked about township road closure over 55 at Funks Grove. Mr. Stokes provided an update noting at their last meeting with them they are hoping work would be done by June. 

Chairman Soeldner asked if Ms. Taylor had anything for the Committee. Ms. Taylor indicated she had nothing for the Committee. 

Chairman Soeldner noted the date and time of next meeting and asked if there was any other business to come before the Committee; hearing none, he adjourned the meeting at 8:53 a.m. 

https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8692