McLean County Times

McLean County Land Use and Transportation Committee met Aug. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the McLean County Board met on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 400 of the Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington, Illinois.

Members Present: Chair Lea Cline, Members Krystle Able, Alex Duffy, Sean Fagan, Brian Loeffler and Andy Ziebarth

Members Absent Member Adam Reeves

Other Members Present: None

Staff Members Present: Cassy Taylor, County Administrator; Cathy Dreyer, Assistant County Administrator; Anthony Grant, Assistant County Administrator; Don Rood, First Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division, and Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary

Department Heads Present: Jerry Stokes, County Engineer; Phil Dick, Building and Zoning

Others Present: Dan Leary, Information Technologies

The meeting was called to order by Chair Cline at 8:30 a.m. and a quorum declared.

Chair Cline presented the minutes from the Land Use and Transportation June 12, 2025 stand up and July 8, 2025 regular meetings and invoices in the amount of $4,483,458.43 for the Highway Department and invoices in the amount of $318.24 for the Building and Zoning Department for approval.

Motion by Ziebarth/Loeffler to approve the minutes from the Land Use and Transportation June 12, 2025 stand up and July 8, 2025 regular meetings and invoices in the amount of $4,483,458.43 for the Highway Department and invoices in the amount of $318.24 for the Building and Zoning Department for approval.

Motion Carried.

Chair Cline confirmed with Administrator Taylor a County Employee had requested to speak. Mr. Duffy joined the meeting at 8:32 a.m.

Mr. Ray Lai provided update on Regional Strategic Planning Draft. He noted they have extended public comment until September 1st. He also updated members about scheduled public meetings in the County and thanked them for getting information out to constituents. Mr. Fagan noted there are only two meetings scheduled outside of Bloomington Normal and those were to the East. He asked if there would be other meetings outside of Bloomington Normal. Mr. Lai indicated after discussions with the rural mayors they picked locations within an approximate 20-minute drive for most residents in different areas of the county. Ms. Taylor asked him about their meeting with the Heyworth Mayor. Mr. Lai indicated that meeting as well as the other meetings they had have all gone well as they discuss the process and plan behind the strategic planning draft. He noted he would try to come back each month with an update.

Chair Cline presented for action on behalf of Jerry Stokes and the Highway Department a request to approve a Resolution for the August 4, 2025 Project Letting. Mr. Stokes went over the project included in the project letting.

Motion by Fagan/Able to recommend approval of a Resolution for the August 4, 2025 Project Letting.

Motion Carried.

Chair Cline presented for action on behalf of Mr. Stokes and the Highway Department a request to approve Road Use Agreements with 6GM for Hudson Township Solar I, II and III. Mr. Stokes noted the locations of the solar farms being built and the roads that would be included in the agreements. Ms. Cline asked if these projects had been approved by ZBA. Mr. Stokes confirmed. Ms. Cline asked if these were standard contracts. Mr. Stokes confirmed and noted the only difference between these and the next set of agreements includes a pavement pre-improvement survey. He noted that the current agreement includes roads that we recently worked on so we know the condition of those roads, but the next set of agreements include roads that have not been recently repaved, so they will review them and note the current condition of the road. Mr. Ziebarth asked him to confirm there would not be any road restrictions or obstructions of regular travel on these roads. Mr. Stokes confirmed

there would not.

Motion by Able/Ziebarth to recommend approval of Road Use Agreements with 6GM for Hudson Township Solar I, II and III.

Motion Carried.

Chair Cline presented for action on behalf of Mr. Stokes and the Highway Department a request to approve Road Use Agreements with Empyrean Power Services, LLC for McLean Solar VII and Old Colonial Solar. Mr. Stokes noted this group had been approved for approximately 8 solar farms and noted roads these agreements would include. Ms. Cline asked about the dollar amounts noted for each agreement. Mr. Stokes confirmed the amount in Escrow would be more for agreements that cover paved roads vs oil and chip roads.

Motion by Duffy/Able to recommend approval of Road Use Agreements with Empyrean Power Services LLC for McLean Solar VII and Old Colonial Solar. Motion Carried.

Chair Cline presented for action on behalf of Mr. Stokes and the Highway Department a request to approve a Letter of Understanding with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Towanda Overpass (CH29). Mr. Stokes noted the State would be fixing the overpass at Towanda and due to the traffic count would put in traffic signals to keep the traffic moving

during the project. Mr. Stokes noted that part of this Letter of Understanding is for the State to take out the median the County maintains and then put the median back after the project.

Motion by Able/Loeffler to recommend approval of a Letter of Understanding with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Towanda Overpass (CH29). Motion Carried.

Chair Cline presented for action on behalf of Mr. Stokes and the Highway Department a request to approve a Resolution for the Purchase of (2) Dump Bodies, Hoists and Hydraulics from Monroe Equipment. Mr. Stokes noted it takes about a year to get dump bodies on tandem trucks in place, so they would like to purchase the dump bodies now so they will be ready for the 2026 Tandem trucks. He indicated they are saving enough money on capital projects in 2025 to cover this cost. Ms. Cline asked him to provide background on bidding and timing. Mr. Stokes went over bidding process through Sourcewell noting it takes about a year to a year and half from order to receipt.

Motion by Duffy/Loeffler to recommend approval of a Resolution for the Purchased of (2) Dump Bodies, Hoists and Hydraulics from Monroe Equipment. Motion Carried.

Mr. Stokes provided an update and pictures on the Golden Bridge – Lexington-LeRoy Road project noting guardrails, paint and clean-up work should be done this week. Mr. Stokes next provided an update on the PJ Keller Highway project noting the only item left is the adding of rumble strips.

Mr. Stokes provided an update on the Stringtown Road project noting incidentals needed to be finished such as driveways, etc. Mr. Stokes indicated they were following up with the contractor as they had delayed these items a little too long. Mr. Stokes provided an update and pictures on the Kruger Bridge project and noted they hope the road would be opened in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Stokes then noted the Towanda-Gridley Road project was getting started this week. Chair Cline asked if there were any questions; hearing none, she thanked him.

Chair Cline noted the permit summary from Phil Dick and the Building and Zoning Department was in the packet. Mr. Dick reminded members there were two public hearings scheduled to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals this evening. Ms. Cline asked if there were any questions; hearing none she thanked him.

Cassy Taylor, County Administrator noted that at 10:00 a.m. that day in the Village of McLean, Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi, McLean County Chair Elizabeth Johnston, and Village of McLean President Daniel Biehl would be participating in a media event announcing the start of construction on a 4.5 mile extension of the Route 66 Trail between McLean and Funks Grove. She noted the trail provides safety benefits for non-motorized uses, a connection between neighborhoods and a positive economic impact to the towns and villages in the County. She thanked Friends of the Trail, Patrick Dullard and Bill Wasson for their continued support and assistance in securing grant funding. Ms. Taylor also thanked Cathy Dreyer, Jerry Stokes, and Luke Hohulin from the County for their efforts to make this project possible.

Chair Cline indicated the next meeting would be on September 2, 2025 at 8:30 a.m., noted there was nothing further for the Committee to consider and adjourned the meeting at 9:04 a.m.

https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08052025-978