McLean County Board Land Use and Transportation Committee met June 7.
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: Members William Friedrich, Gerald Thompson, Jim Rogal and Beverly Bell
Members Absent Members James Soeldner, Lea Cline, and Shayna Watchinski
Other Members Present: None
Staff Members Present: Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Anthony Grant, Assistant County Administrator; Christopher Spanos, First Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division, Taylor Williams, Assistant State’s Attorney; Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary
Department Heads Present: Jerry Stokes, County Engineer; Phil Dick, Building and Zoning
Others Present: Luke Hohulin, Assistant County Engineer
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Friedrich at 8:00 a.m. and a quorum declared.
Vice Chairman Friedrich presented the May 3, 2022, Land Use and Transportation Committee regular meeting minutes for approval.
Motion by Rogal/Bell to approve the May 3, 2022, Land Use and Transportation Committee regular meeting minutes.
Motion Carried.
Vice Chairman Friedrich presented prepaid bills in the amount of $2,063.76 for the Building and Zoning Department and $1,277,805.33 for the Highway Department.
Motion by Thompson/Rogal to recommend payment of bills as presented. Motion carried.
Vice Chairman Friedrich confirmed with Cassy Taylor there were no appearances by members of the public or employees.
Vice Chairman Friedrich presented for action on behalf of Jerry Stokes and the Highway Department a request to approve a Resolution for the May 26, 2022, Construction Letting. Mr. Stokes went over the scope and budget for the project. Mr. Friedrich asked if this company had worked for the County before. Mr. Stokes confirmed they had. Mr. Friedrich asked how many bids they received. Mr. Stokes indicated they received two bids. Mr. Thompson asked for clarification of the location of the project. Mr. Stokes went over location. Mr. Rogal asked about the large difference in bids. Mr. Stokes noted this company is smaller with less overhead and they are also closer to the work area both of which more than likely figured into the bid. Ms. Bell asked how the bid process works including if bids are posted for all State of Illinois contractors to consider. Mr. Stokes indicated that if the project will use IDOT Bridge funds then they have to list the project on the IDOT site, which allows all contractors in the State of Illinois to see the bid. Mr. Stokes noted only a few companies do this type of work so not as many bids come in. Ms. Bell asked if minority companies are considered. Mr. Stokes noted companies have to be pre-qualified by IDOT and considerations include whether the company can meet the bid requirements and can do the work.
Motion by Rogal/Thompson to recommend approval of a Resolution for May 26, 2022, Construction Letting.
Motion Carried.
Vice Chairman Friedrich presented for action a request to approve a Weight Limit Resolution, Townline Road (CH 24) – Section 13-00160-02-RS. Mr. Stokes went over work to be completed and indicated this would be a Class 2 truck route.
Motion by Thompson/Bell to recommend approval of a Weight Limit Resolution, Townline Road (CH 24) – Section 13-00160-02-RS
Motion Carried.
Vice Chairman Friedrich presented for action a request to approve a Special Event Road Closure Permit. Mr. Stokes noted this was a request to utilize County roads around Lake Bloomington for a parade on June 11th. Mr. Stokes noted all new event requests need to come through the Committee for approval. Mr. Rogal asked about approval process as he noted this event would occur before the County Board meeting. Mr. Stokes indicated the request only needed Committee approval. Ms. Bell noted June 11th would be the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting and felt there would be events taking place in Normal and Bloomington. She asked if they had considered possible traffic issues in Normal. She also asked how long this event was planned to last. Mr. Stokes indicated the parade was scheduled to take about one hour starting at 5:30 p.m. and noted the request was only for use of County roads.
Motion by Rogal/Thompson to recommend approval of a Special Event Road Closure Permit.
Motion Carried.
Mr. Stokes provided an update and pictures on the Brand II Bridge project. Mr. Stokes showed a video of piles being driven in and explained the process. Mr. Thompson asked if they use solid or hollow pile. Mr. Hohulin indicated pile is ½ inch thick hollow steel that is filled with concrete and then surrounded with concrete once driven into the ground. Ms. Bell stated last month Mr. Stokes had noted the number of bridges in the County that needed repaired and asked about that number. Mr. Stokes noted he had provided the total number of County and Township bridges last month. He noted they keep track of life span of bridges and monitor when bridges need maintenance, repairs or replacement. Ms. Bell stated she wanted to inspect bridges in the County as she felt there were bridges in disrepair. Mr. Thompson stated County bridges are not in disrepair. Ms. Bell asked how many people complain about bridges in the County as she gets complaints about bridges in her district. Ms. Bell stated bridges in Town are in disrepair. Mr. Thompson noted Town and City bridges are not the County Highway Department’s responsibility and are not under the purview of the County Land Use and Transportation Committee. Mr. Thompson asked Mr. Stokes to confirm they do not take care of City and Town bridges. Mr. Stokes confirmed those would be monitored, repaired or replaced by the City or Town.
Mr. Stokes provided an update on the Meadow roads project. He also provided an update on the White Oak Road project noting they had completed patching and the curb and gutter portion of the project and would start milling work this week. He noted the project was still on schedule to be completed by the end of June. Mr. Stokes then provided an update on the PJ Keller project noting milling work was started and hot mix would be put down in the next couple of weeks.
Vice Chairman Friedrich present for action on behalf of Phil Dick and the Building and Zoning Department, a request by the McLean County Regional Planning Commission to approve a Regional Planning Service Agreement for their fiscal year July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. Mr. Dick noted this is an annual agreement in which the City of Bloomington, Town of Normal and County all contribute the same amount.
Motion by Rogal/Thompson to recommend approval of a Regional Planning Service Agreement for their fiscal year July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
Motion Carried.
Vice Chairman Friedrich presented for action on behalf of Ms. Cassy Taylor and Administration a request to approve a Resolution Reappointing the County Engineer. Mr. Friedrich asked if this was needed in addition to the paperwork they previously approved. Ms. Taylor confirmed this was the second part of the approval process through IDOT. She also noted this paperwork would allow the County to be reimbursed by the State for half of the County Engineer’s salary. Mr. Friedrich asked when this would be up for renewal again. Ms. Taylor noted this was a six-year reappointment.
Motion by Thompson/Bell to recommend approval of a Resolution Reappointing the County Engineer.
Motion Carried.
Under Other Business Mr. Thompson noted that Sapphire Sky had done a good job watering roads to keep dust levels down. Mr. Thompson also noted tragic accidents in the last month on County roads and asked that everyone be safe on the roadways.
Vice Chairman Friedrich asked if there was any other business to come before the Committee; hearing none, he adjourned the meeting at 8:36 a.m.
https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8787
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