Sangamon Sun

Logan County Board Transportation Committee met Oct. 2.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Present: Mr. Wessbecher, Mrs. Bobell, Mr. Turner

Absent: Mrs. Davenport

Guests: Gene Rohlfs, Curt Fox, Bret Aukamp

Meeting Called to Order: Mr. Wessbecher called the meeting to order at 5:30pm.

Approval of Minutes: September 20, 2023. Mr. Turner makes a motion to approve the minutes, of September 20, 2023, Mrs. Bobell seconds the motion, Motion Carries w/ all ayes.

Old Business: Airport and Farm- None.

New Business: Airport and Farm- Mr. Wessbecher asks Mr. Rohlfs to update the committee about the fence project. Mr. Rohlfs is waiting to hear back from Lindsey, the neighbors have been notified so far, no complaints. letting is planned for November 17th.

Old Business: Highway/Road & Bridge

1. Monthly Report on Maintenance, Construction and Engineering- Mr. Aukamp refers to the report in packet. Mr. Aukamp reports they are catching up on projects, installed several entrance culverts, and patching potholes and road edges. The mowing tractors started south from Lincoln this year and are working their way around the County. There are a lot of weeds this year at guardrail locations. They continue to work in that area, removing small trees at the right of way. The bridge project south of New Holland is almost complete. However, the bridge rail supplier had a fire at their factory which has delayed the delivery of that material, delivery of those materials is expected later this week. Mr. Aukamp will be attending the IACE Fall Conference in Moline, Sam will be attending this year, because there is a graduation ceremony for the Executive Leadership Development Series class that he has been taking for the past two years. Mrs. Bobell suggested taking a picture so that it could be posted somewhere to give Sam recognition.

2. Winds Farms-

• Status of Top Hat wind farm project 1500th St has been stabilized with cement (2.5 miles) and Mr. Aukamp expects to receive the strength results from our consulting engineer. Mr. Aukamp will be coordinating with the Township and with Top Hat before the next step of construction.

• Other projects. Mr. Aukamp Highway 6 going through Beason is getting paved with Hot Mix Asphalt, Work will continue for the next few days. Nothing new to report on Pike Creek.

3. 5th Street Road Project Mr. Aukamp talks about 5th Street Road, The Urban Section the City of Lincoln has signed an engineering agreement with Hanson to re-design their portion of 5th St. Rd. The city is rethinking their design. Originally it was going to be a curb and gutter, turn lane down the middle but the price is too high, they are scaling the project. No work has been started, once they have decided, Mr. Aukamp will be able to determine the best course of action for the County since the county is bound by the IGA that was on the original design. The agreement expires in April. Mr. Wessbecher asks about the County portion, which is about a ¼ mile, the county would like to help, but what they are building must be figured out. Mr. Aukamp expects to have more information next month. The Connector section: Design work continues, Hanson is preparing the Project Development Report and Mr. Aukamp is working with them to adjust the alignment and profile, mainly the reverse curves near Kickapoo Creek They are working on minor changes to avoid flooding. Mr. Aukamp is also working with them on keeping costs down, but it still early in process. Mr. Aukamp reports that after 20 years, signed contracts have been sent to IDOT for their approval and will hopefully be able to begin construction there later this fall. He has not heard back from the contractor as far as availability of supplies, as soon as the contracts are approved, he will notify them.

New Business: Highway/Road & Bridge

1. County Aid culvert projects. Mr. Aukamp talks to the committee about the two culvert projects. Corwin township has been redesigning the township decided to use motor fuel tax for their half of the project, the county pays for the other half. Because they wanted to use motor fuel tax the process involved more steps and time. Mr. Aukamp mentions he was surprised to have 9 bidders so far for the project. Letting is scheduled for next Tuesday and will have that for workshop. Mr. Wessbecher asks for a motion to approve the lowest bidder for the Corwin township project. Turner makes the motion, seconded by Mrs. Bobell, to approve the lowest bidder for the culvert project in Corwin Township. Section 23-0500-01-BR. Mr. Aukamp moves on the 2nd culvert project, which is a larger project around 1600 Avenue, a large double box culvert will be removed and replaced with two large pipe culvert the cost is split 50/50 between the County Bridge Fund and Eminence Township. Mr. Aukamp states he has 6 bidders for this project. Mrs. Bobell makes a motion seconded by Mr. Turner to approve the lowest bidder for the culvert project in Eminence Township Section 23-0800-01-BR. Motion carries. The committee and Mr. Aukamp have a short discussion about the county bridge fund at its purpose. (State statue)

• Resolution to award a construction contract for a culvert project in Corwin Township. Letting to be held October 10th at 10:00 am. Section 23-0500-01-BR (formerly Section 122-B-CA)

• Resolution to award a construction contract for a culvert project in Eminence Township. Letting to be held October 10th at 10:00 am. Section 23-0800-01-BR (formerly Sections 222-B-CA)

2. County Engineer Re-appointment. Mr. Aukamp talks to the committee about his position and explains that the County Engineer is appointed by the County Board. The appointment is for a 6- year term. Mr. Aukamp’s term will expire mid-November; he is formally requesting the Board to consider him for re-appointment. Mr. Aukamp provides a letter about what he has been up to for the last 18 years and will send it out to the full board. Mr. Aukamp talks about his salary and where it is paid from (Motor Fuel Tax) IODT publishes a schedule of recommended salaries for each of the 102 County Engineers, if the salary in Logan County is 95% of the IDOT recommendation, the county can use federal highway funds to pay for ½ the salary. Logan County has done this for the past 6 years. Mr. Aukamp talks about the history of his salary as the Logan County Engineer, the list of recommended salaries for 2023 and Logan County is in the middle Mr. Aukamp refers to the contract the County Board had requested and the salary schedules that could be followed, since the salaries are not known at this time the alternate schedule with set amounts could be used. Mr. Aukamp refers to the clause that provides he does not lose money from one year to the next Mr. Aukamp mentions the only other change he made was last year he had for 101% of the recommended this year he is asking for 102% of the recommended, the reason being, he has been here longer and has a good handle on what he is doing, also would keep him on pace. Mr. Aukamp encourages the committee to reach out to and talk to him, people they know, any of the 17 highway commissioners, talk to IDOT. Those are his harshest critics and can tell you if he should be reappointed or not. Mr. Aukamp appreciates that everyone might not understand what all the highway department does. Mr. Aukamp admits he probably has ruffled feathers of a few people. But he always applies the same standards to everyone anywhere in the county. Mr. Turner asks Mr. Aukamp to clarify the source of his salary. Mrs. Bobell asks if the salary is ever capped. And if not, they still get reimbursement? Mr. Aukamp states at his time it is not capped and explains why reimbursement has been created. There is a discussion about whether the appointment should be out of committee or off the floor. asks about bringing it before the Personnel committee. Mr. Turner makes a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bobell, to recommend approval. Mr. Wessbecher asks Mr. Aukamp to send copies of the packet he presented to committee to the full board so they can review. Mr. Aukamp agrees to get those sent out to the full board.

3. Quarterly project status report Mr. Aukamp refers the committee to the handout in packets. The handout shows the status of various projects and what. Mr. Aukamp points out that the projects that had been voted on earlier are on the pending projects and will be moving up soon. Another County Highway over sugar creek will be coming up for letting in March, Mr. Aukamp is trying to get it pushed to January 2024, Mr. Aukamp refers to the bridge as the pekin hill bridge. There is a resurfacing project between New Holland and Middletown that will be coming up next year. Mr. Turner asks about a bridge and if it has been fixed, Mr. Turner asks about another bridge at the Logan/McLean County line, the bridge is not a Logan County Bridge. There is a short discussion about how repairs would be paid for that bridge.

Budget Review: Mr. Aukamp talks about the Motor Fuel tax. There is a big expense there for Road Contractors that is coming out, but under township motor fuel, the townships are paying back their portions so the bill can be paid amounting to about $400, 000 of the $450,000 payments. Everything else is line. Mr. Aukamp offers to answer questions. Mr. Turner asks about trends he is noticing at the township level and asks if Mr. Aukamp has noticed the same. Mr. Aukamp talks about revenue that will go away after this year. Mr. Aukamp says they will continue to help with what they can help.

Approval of Bills Mr. Wessbecher asks if there are any questions on any of the bills. Mr. Turner asks for a minute to review the bills. Mr. Turner asks a few questions about airport bills. Mrs. Bobell makes a motion seconded by Mr. Turner to approve the bills motion passes

Public Comments: Mr. Wessbecher opens the floor for public comment. Mr. Fox talks to the committee about an airplane engine that the HIF museum had been approached, the engine has historical ties to Lincoln. Mr. Rohlfs joins the conversation.

Adjournment:

Mrs. Bobell makes a motion, seconded by Mr. Turner to adjourn the meeting at 6:17 PM. Motion carries.

https://logancountyil.gov/images/Transportation100223.pdf