Sangamon Sun

Logan County Board Transportation Committee met Nov. 6.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

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

Absent: 

Guests: Gene Rohlfs, Bret Aukamp, Curt Fox, Michael DeRoss

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

Approval of Minutes: Mr. Turner made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bobell, to approve the Transportation Committee meeting minutes from October 2, 2023. Motion carried. Mr. Wessbecher announced he was changing the order of the agenda to start with new business for Highway/ Road & Bridge, the committee agreed.

Old Business: AIRPORT & FARM- None.

New Business: AIRPORT & FARM 

1. Reports: 

a. Airport/ Farm- Mr. Rohlfs told the committee how much avgas sold at the airport, informed the committee of the TIPS meeting that he and Mr. Wessbecher attended in October and explained the first two sheets he submitted to the committee regarding the TIPS meeting and the list of projects. Mr. Wessbecher explained the need to be ADA compliant which is why they have the remodeling listed on the TIPS project sheet. Mr. Rohlfs told the committee that the letting for the Rebuild Illinois TIPS project will be on the 17th and it will be a $681,000 project and the county share will be 10% and explained the electric gate for the airport. Mr. Rohlfs told the committee that there are 7 empty hangars currently at the airport and improvements could make them more desirable. Mr. Rohlfs discussed the previous month’s invoices.

b. HIF- Mr. Fox told the committee that Heritage in Flight will be having a Veteran’s Day celebration at the airport with many guests and mentioned the sky diving club the previous weekend and the visitors from Oklahoma, it was also mentioned that the night sky diving event was cancelled.

Old Business: HIGHWAY/ ROAD & BRIDGE 

1. Monthly Report on Maintenance, Construction, and Engineering- Mr. Aukamp gave his monthly report on maintenance, construction, and engineering to the committee.

2. Winds Farms 

a. Status of Top Hat Wind Farm Project- Mr. Aukamp explained that 1500th Street is mostly complete and opened back up to traffic, but several punch list items remain to be completed and construction plans for the remaining 50 miles of roads are being developed by Invenergy.

b. Other Projects- Mr. Aukamp gave an update to the committee regarding Pike Creek, stating construction plans will be developed in early 2024, and Whitney Hill stating four turbines need to be repaired and is working with the developer, crane company and civil contractor.

3. 5th Street Road Project- Mr. Aukamp gave the committee an update on the project regarding the urban section, connector section, and rural section. Mr. Aukamp stated that he has been in contact with Hutchinson Engineering to assist the county on an as needed basis for an engineering consultant on the rural section of the 5th Street Road project. Mr. Aukamp stated that the county does not have the manpower and the equipment for all aspects of the rural section of the project that is why Hutchinson will be needed. Mr. Aukamp stated that the Hutchinson agreement is an hourly, as needed contract with a not to exceed amount of $65,000. Mrs. Bobell asked if the motion could be brought off the floor at Workshop, Mr. Wessbecher and Mr. Aukamp agreed.

4. County Engineer Reappointment- Mr. Aukamp stated that IDOT has agreed to the reappointment of the County Engineer and a contract will need to be negotiated for the next 6-year term and a resolution will need to be passed. Mr. Aukamp explained the paperwork regarding the topic in the committee packets. Mr. Aukamp stated that he will be asking the Board to approve the resolution for reappointment and to approve the contract to specify the salary and other provisions. Mrs. Bobell asked if the motion could be brought off the floor at Workshop, Mr. Wessbecher and Mr. Aukamp agreed.

New Business: HIGHWAY/ ROAD & BRIDGE 

1. 5 Year Construction Plan (2024-2028)- Mr. Aukamp presented to the committee the list of projects for the county that is created every year to help prioritize the federal funds available and stated that they were able to drop off several projects for the 2024-2028 plan. Mr. Aukamp explained the list to the committee. Mrs. Davenport made a motion, seconded by Mr. Turner, to approve the 5-year construction plan. Motion carried.

2. Letter of Intent with IDOT for Cost Sharing on Broadwell Overpass Resurfacing- Mr. Aukamp explained to the committee that IDOT is planning on rehabbing the bridge on the Broadwell overpass in 2024 and explained that Logan County has jurisdiction of the road on the north side of the bridge, and IDOT is asking to partner with Logan County, and that due to the major rehabilitation CH 22 will be closed for up to 90 days, and the ramps will remain open, Mr. Aukamp stated that the letting is scheduled for January and that IDOT is requesting a cost sharing agreement where we would provide a 10% match for the cunty chare of the project. Mr. Aukamp states that based on the estimates it would be $44,735 for the concrete median reconstruction and road resurfacing and the amount will likely be paid for from the MTF. Mr. Aukamp explained to the committee that Logan County is being asked to sign a letter of intent for the participation of the project. Mr. Turner made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Davenport, to sign the letter of intent. Motion carried.

3. Resolution to Approve the 2024 MFT Maintenance Program for County Highways- Mr. Aukamp explained to the committee that an estimate is submitted to IDOT yearly for the county MFT expenses, then it is reviewed by IDOT. Mr. Aukamp states that for 2024 they are estimating $900,000 will be needed for maintenance from the MFT account, which is about $200k less than average expenses. Mrs. Davenport made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bobell, to approve the resolution for the 2024 MFT maintenance program for county highways. Motion carried.

4. Sealcoat Report for 2023- Mr. Aukamp presented the 2023 sealcoat report to the committee and reviewed the report and added that the 2024 sealcoat program will be scaled back. Mr. Wessbecher stated that the committee will move back up to the old business for Airport/ Farm, the committee agreed.

Budget Review: None.

Approval of Bills: Mrs. Bobell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Turner, to approve the Highway Department bills. Motion carried. Mr. Turner made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bobell, to approve the Transportation committee bills. Motion carried.

Public Comments: None.

Mrs. Bobell makes a motion, seconded by Mr. Turner, to adjourn the meeting at 6:27pm. Motion carries.

https://logancountyil.gov/images/Transportation11062023.pdf