Champaign County Board Highway & Transportation Committee met Friday, Feb. 10.
Champaign County Board Highway & Transportation Committee County of Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
Here are the minutes as provided by the committee:
MINUTES – APPROVED MARCH 10, 2017 DATE: Friday, February 10, 2017 TIME: 9:00 a.m. PLACE: Highway Building Conference Room
1605 East Main, Urbana, IL
Committee Members
Present: Lorraine Cowart (Chair), Chris Alix, Jim McGuire, Diane Michaels, Max Mitchell, Steve Summers, C. Pius Weibel Absent: John Jay
County Staff: Jeff Blue (County Engineer), Linda Lane (Recording Secretary), Michelle Carter
(Recording Secretary)
Others Present: MINUTES
I. Call to Order
Committee Chair Cowart called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.
II. Roll Call
A verbal roll call was taken and a quorum was declared present.
III. Approval of Agenda/Addendum
MOTION by Ms. Michaels to approve the agenda; seconded by Mr. Summers. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
IV. Approval of Minutes – January 13, 2017
MOTION by Mr. Mitchell to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2017 meeting; seconded by Mr. Summers. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
V. Public Participation
None
VI. Communications
Mr. Blue said he spoke with Chris Doenitz regarding John Jay. Mr. Doenitz said that Mr. Jay is not getting around to good. However, Mr. Jay is still saying he is coming back.
VII. County & Township Motor Fuel Tax Claims – January 2017
MOTION by Mr. Alix to receive and place on file the County and Township Motor Fuel Tax Claims for January 2017; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
VIII. Review of 2017-2018 Work Plan and Maps
Mr. Blue discussed the 2017-2018 work plan with funding allocations. The first project is County Road 9, Bridge Replacement. The project is locally funded with County Bridge Funds. The contractor is Stark Excavating, with pricing at $615,000.00. Construction will begin in early April. The project is a full bridge construction with steel beams and concrete deck. Ms. Cowart asked if the road would be closed. Mr. Blue replied the whole road would be closed.
The next project is County Road 20 Bridge Deck Replacement. Mr. Blue informed the committee the bridge deck is showing serious wear and tear from age. The County has been waiting for clearance from the state because of the unique guardrails. The County received clearance this week and the bid letting is set for March 2nd. Previously a resolution was done to give the County Engineer award authority, as long as the bid amount is within 10% of the engineer’s estimate. Mr. Blue said this bridge is the one the County had to post last year and we are trying to get rid of the posting.
Next, Mr. Blue discussed two Bridge Replacements on Monticello Road. The first is Kaskaskia Bridge. Mr. Blue stated that this is a very large bridge. He estimates the total cost of the replacement at 1 million dollars with $800,000.00 coming from federal dollars. He said the bridge has distressed strands in it and it may have to be load posted before we replace it. The state inspected it last week and agreed with the County’s rating. Mr. Weibel asked how often the state would inspect the bridge. Mr. Blue stated the inspection is usually on a 6-month cycle. Mr. Blue is trying to get this approved in February. Then the project could be bid in April and the work could begin in June. Mr. Alix asked if there would be a detour posted. Mr. Blue replied that there would be road closure signs posted but not detour signs. The road closure will be posted on the state system. Mr. Blue said he has talked to the highway commissioners regarding increased traffic using 900 north. Stop signs will be posted at the intersections on this road. The next bridge is the East Lake Fork Bridge. Mr. Blue stated that since Monticello Road will be closed for the Kaskaskia Bridge, this is the time to replace this bridge. Mr. Alix asked if the projects will be bid together. Mr. Blue replied that we cannot because the Kaskaskia Bridge is using federal money and the East Lake Fork Bridge is using local funds. Mr. Blue hopes to bid the projects close enough together to hopefully get the same contractor. Mr. Blue stated that residents that live in the area would have to use the township roads. Mr. Alix asked about businesses that will be affected by the road closure. Mr. Blue said no businesses are on the east west road and METCAD would be notified of the road closure. The county will award the letting for the East Lake Fork Bridge and the state will award the Kaskaskia Bridge.
Next, Mr. Blue discussed a couple of township bridges. Compromise Township Bridge is west of Penfield. This is a small project installing an aluminized arch. The County is waiting for the state to determine whether the existing rails are historically significant. The Mahomet Township Bridge is on Spring Lake Road. This bid letting is set for February 22, 2017. The bridge is one of only two ways to get into the subdivision. The Township Commissioner does not want to close off access to the subdivision until school is out. The project is set to begin June 1st and be complete by August 15th.
Mr. Blue stated there would be other smaller culvert projects requested by the townships; the county pays for materials and the township pays for installation.
Mr. Blue then discussed the Dewey Elliott Road Rehabilitation Project. He stated the road is a high traffic road that is in bad shape. There are (2) 1-mile areas where the County is buying ROW and we are pushing the ditches out and rebuilding the shoulders. This will make it a safer roadway to drive. First, they will use a cold and place recycle and then use a hotmix asphalt overlay over the top. Mr. Weibel asked what it takes to build up the sides of the ditches. Mr. Blue replied it takes a lot of dirt. Mr. Weibel asked if guardrails were an option. Mr. Blue said that guardrails are a maintenance nightmare. Mr. Blue stated he would rather spend the money and build up the ditches. The shoulder will be increased to 6’. Mr. Blue informed the committee negotiations for ROW began this week. There are only eight tracts to purchase for this project. The county is buying 10’ of ROW. We are hopeful to get the tracts purchased by April. The completion date for the project is October 15, 2017. The road will only be closed during the paving. Mr. Alix asked if the dirt would need to settle. Mr. Blue replied the contractors would be able to compact the dirt as they build it. Mr. Weibel asked if the County needed a permit for this project. Mr. Blue replied that if we touch anything we have to receive the EPA and Corp of Engineers approval. Mr. Blue said the County received TARP money for this project. The project covers 6 miles and the County received $90,000.00 per mile for a total of $540,000.00. Mr. Alix asked about the stretch of road on the map that ends at Dewey. Mr. Blue replied it will be paved all the way to 136 but the County has already received TARP money for that section in the past. The Co-op is redoing the rail crossing. Ms. Michaels asked if this is Premier. Mr. Blue answered yes and explained that the township is going to do some work on the road that leads to the current scale at the same time.
Mr. Blue stated that in June of 2016 the County applied for a Highway Safety Improvement Project to upgrade some of our guardrails. The County hired a consultant to do a countywide guardrail assessment of the 200 miles of county roads. We applied for 2.4 million and received 1 million. Mr. Blue said it is about $100 a foot to replace. Mr. Weibel asked how many feet of guardrail do we have. Mr. Blue replied he would have to check but there are about 67 locations. We are assessing where we can best spend the million dollars. We hope to bid the project sometime this summer. Ms. Michaels asked about the County road ratings. Mr. Blue said that typically when we do a roadway we do not touch the sides; our surfaces are in good shape. However, there are new standards for guardrails. Mr. Alix asked about eliminating guardrails. Mr. Blue replied the money is for guardrail replacement. Mr. Weibel asked if when the County replaces a bridge if we are able to reuse the guardrail. Mr. Blue replied that it is unlikely that we reuse very much. The contractor then gives salvage value for it. This is only for County roads and the project will be bid as furnish and install.
Mr. Blue informed the committee the Lincoln Avenue Realignment Project is currently going on. He said the project was bid and Stark Excavating is the contractor. We are out there removing and burning trees; weather permitting we hope to begin dirt work in March. This project should be done and open by this fall. We will open Olympian Drive Roadway and Bridge, connect to Lincoln Ave, and have the corridor open to traffic. Mr. Alix voiced concerns with Stark Excavating and the problems on Windsor Road. Mr. Blue said he does not feel great about the situation either but explained the differences in the roadway projects. Windsor Road has full curb and gutter with concrete pavement. The roadway had many different dynamics. Mr. Blue stated that he thinks the curb and gutter locks in the pavement. The project on Lincoln Avenue has no curb and gutter and the project will be slip formed. In addition, Windsor Road has had problems before; there could be an underlying issue. The County and the City of Urbana hired a very seasoned engineer, Mike Carnahan to oversee the project with the help of engineer, John Marker. Mr. Blue stated we have the best people to oversee the project. The County met with Stark Excavating and Mr. Blue believes Stark is compelled to try harder. Ms. Michaels asked where Stark would be getting their concrete. Mr. Blue replied this is one issue that worries him. The concrete will be from Sport. The committee discussed the quality of the concrete and the misplacement of dowel bars on Windsor Road. Mr. Blue stated that no doubt the dowel bars will be set in place where they are supposed to be. Mr. Blue said that on a state funded project, if a contractor is state certified, the County has no right to deny them. Mr. Blue stated that when the Lincoln Avenue project is complete the roadway would belong to the City of Urbana.
Mr. Blue discussed the County Wide Stop Sign Installation Project. He stated they are working with CUUATS and RPC regarding a full GIS map that shows the current stop sign locations and the needed stop locations on the township roads in Champaign County. The County has not applied for or received the money for this project. However, Mr. Blue said he has a handshake agreement with the State of Illinois. We will apply for Highway Safety Improvement dollars and the State will fund the project at a 90% level. The project will be furnish and install. Ms. Michaels asked about using the summer youth program, Workforce Development to complete some of the work. Mr. Blue replied that sometimes engineers or planners come over from the University of Illinois as interns. The students could not do the installation; however, they could monitor the contractor’s installation. Mr. Alix asked if this would be one Countywide bid to do all of them. Mr. Blue replied yes. Mr. Alix asked if it would be a challenge getting the utility locates done. Mr. Blue said this would be up to the contractor. Mr. Blue said that it is a federal job so they have to be federally approved. Mr. Alix asked about the equipment used. Mr. Blue explained how the County installs signs and why it is not feasible to have the Highway Department complete this project.
Mr. Blue then discussed the four projects scheduled for fiscal year 2018. The first is the Pesotum Bridge which is currently posted and on a 3 month inspection cycle. The plan is to close the bridge and redo the roadway. There is Federal money for the bridge, Federal money for the roadway, and TARP money for the roadway. The project should be mostly State and Federal funded.
The next project in 2018 is County Highway 13, Broadlands Road. The project will consist of hot in place recycling with an asphalt overlay over the top. Mr. Blue said this should give us a 20-year road.
Mr. Blue stated they are still working on the Countywide ADA Ramp Construction. He thinks there are 37 locations that the County has to redo. The $700,000.00 is a guess on the estimated costs.
Mr. Blue stated he did not need a motion at this time. He wanted to inform the committee of the upcoming projects and the estimated funding.
IX. Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds and Establishing a Class II Truck Route on County Highway 23, Section #14-00438-00-RS MOTION by Mr. Mitchell to approve; seconded by Ms. Michaels. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
X. Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds and Establishing a Class II Truck Route on County Highway 16, Section #16-00443-00-RS MOTION by Mr. Summers to approve; seconded by Mr. Weibel. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
XI. Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for the Improvement of County Highway 13, Section #17-00445-00-RS MOTION by Mr. Mitchell to approve; seconded by Mr. Summers. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
XII. Resolution Appropriating Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Countywide Guardrail Replacement, Section #16-00444-00-SP MOTION by Ms. Michaels to approve; seconded by Mr. Summers. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
XIII. April Meeting Discussion
Mr. Blue informed the committee that he would not be able to attend the April 7th Highway Meeting. The Committee agreed to decide at the March meeting if they would have the meeting with Assistant County Engineer, John Cooper or cancel the April Highway Meeting.
Mr. McGuire left the meeting at 10:13 am.
XIV. Other Business
Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chair to Sign a Joint Agreement with IDOT for Construction of Section #16-00033-00-BR MOTION by Mr. Mitchell to approve; seconded by Mr. Summers. Upon vote, the MOTION CARRIED unanimously.
XV. Chair’s Report
None
XVI. Designation of Items to be Placed on Consent Agenda
Ms. Cowart stated that item IX, X, XI, XII and the Addendum are to be placed on the consent agenda.
XVII. Adjournment
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