Will County Public Works & Transportation Committee met June 4.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
I. IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 2020-18 ISSUED BY GOVERNOR PRITZKER, THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE/TELEPHONICALLY THROUGH THE WEBEX EVENTS PLATFORM. WILL COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE ATTENDING THE MEETING REMOTELY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO DO THE SAME.
THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO COMMENT OR POSE A QUESTION BY EMAIL AT PUBLICCOMMENT@WILLCOUNTYILLINOIS.COM. AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE MEETING, THE EMAILS WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD. PLEASE GO TO WWW.WILLCOUNTYBOARD.COM/MEETINGS FOR A LINK TO ATTEND THE MEETING VIA WEBEX.
II. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
Chair Joe VanDuyne called the meeting to order at 9:05 AM
| Attendee Name | Title | Status | Arrived |
| Joe VanDuyne | Chair | Present | |
| Mimi Cowan | Vice-Chair | Present | |
| Mark Ferry | Member | Present | |
| Donald Gould | Member | Present | |
| Kenneth E. Harris | Member | Present | |
| Jim Moustis | Member | Present | |
| Meta Mueller | Member | Present | |
| Ray Tuminello | Member | Present | |
| Margaret Tyson | Member | Present |
Also Present: Ms. Dunn and Mr. Fricilone
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Ms. Parker led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. WC Public Works & Transportation Committee - Regular Meeting - May 7, 2020 9:00 AM
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Donald Gould, Member
SECONDER: Ray Tuminello, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Discussion Re: Road Impact Fees
(Jeff Ronaldson)
Mr. Ronaldson stated in the March’s meeting we did discuss the impact fee; there were some questions and I have now provided a memo dated May 22, 2020 answering some of these questions. One question was can we change the fee on particular land use such as residential. I have talked to two counties who have the impact fee; I also spoke with the State’s Attorney’s office and have Mr. Wise on the meeting today to answer any questions. While it does seem conceivable to do that; we just have to be careful in generating the assumptions that the advisory committee would have to put together. You would have to look at substantiate the claims and why residential fees be different or lower than industrial fees. The law does require that new development to bear its fair share, is the verbage. Being how you define fare share; it would be up to the committee which is made up of both public and private sector to define that. Ultimately, the Board approves their recommendations. It is possible; I can’t guarantee that would be their result of the study. Also the project cost looks like comparing with the other Counties they have $230 to $270 thousand per year cost to run the impact fee. Which includes staff, publishing and a variety of other issues. Their administrative fee 5% only brings in between $50 to $100 thousand; so there is a short fall; The County would be covering some of that cost. Does the committee want to continue a discussion of the impact fees or what the next steps you may want to take?
Mr. Moustis stated based on residential verses commercial; it might be easier that you have a fee based on impact. Certainly impact of a truck may be the same as the impact of fifty cars, just for an example. Do the counties that have this fee; do they differentiate between cars and trucks. How do they determine what the impact on the road is?
Mr. Ronaldson stated most of the conversations that we have had is more rooftop verses square footage of industrial warehouse, commercial. They didn’t take into account the differences between cars and trucks. It is all about impact so how you define impact; you may conceivably do that.
Mr. Moustis stated perhaps we should continue to pursue this. Let us first define impact by residential and commercial. For example we know that residential actually produces more traffic; but it could be less impact on the roads. When the trucks are on the road we have to build the road differently; and it is a more expensive road to build. Once we make that determination move forward and look at cars impact verses how many trucks. I think it should be something we pursue to give the taxpayers some relief from development.
Mr. Gould stated I am concerned that if we do a study it may have unintended consequences. We talked about it at the last meeting about not putting the burden on residential. I just feel this may not be the best time to pursue this.
Mr. Tuminello said if there is not a way to carve out the residential homes in this then I would be a no vote moving forward. In most communities the homeowners are paying massive impact fees when building a home with regards to the school; and all the other taxing bodies that throw impact fees on. If we want to throw a road impact fee just for the residential portion; I would have to vote no.
Mr. Ferry said I think it would be best to look at impact fees to begin with truck weights that the State already has with their licensing.
Mr. Moustis stated I think you are missing my point. I think that we could have very minimal effect on residential. Not all residential would be impacting county roads. I think the primary burden would fall on the truck traffic. If we looked at a very small fee for residential it would not be such a burden. We stopped collecting impact fees for other taxing bodies that were excessive to Will County’s fees. We have helped the developers; therefore the consumers. Let us see what you can craft before we say no.
Ms. Mueller stated I agree with Mr. Moustis and feel we should look at it a little deeper. As a person who has paid impact fees to build a house I understand the frustration with all of the fees; but it could be pretty minimal.
Mr. Van Duyne asked Mr. Ronaldson to continue this conversation and get a little more information for next month and discuss this.
Mr. Ronaldson stated the problem I might have is how we define these things without starting the study. Many of those assumptions will be vetted out by the consultant and all of the processes that we have to go through. This is not a quick and easy process. I don’t believe we can say zero fees for residential; because there is an impact, it won’t be the weight so it won’t be the 80 thousand pounds. It will be the capacity of the roadway itself. If we add a big subdivision that puts a lot more cars on the road; so there is that impact. Hopefully we will be able to minimize it with weight. As to moving forward we will check on the cost of a study.
VI. OTHER OLD BUSINESS
VII. NEW BUSINESS
1. Adopting the Will County Transportation Improvement Program FY 2021-2026
(Jeff Ronaldson)
Mr. Ronaldson stated I believe everyone on the committee was on the committee last year when we approved last year’s plan. We will go through a number of things to refresh everyone’s memory. The State Law requires the County have a twenty year plan which we do have; that was enacted back in March 2017. We have had the 2040 plan, the 2030 plan and the 2020 plan. State law also requires us to do an annual update with that plan; that is what this process is satisfying.
At this juncture Mr. Ronaldson reviewed the Will County Transportation Improvement Program for FY2021 - 2026 included in the agenda.
Mr. Fricilone stated when you were explaining the Gas Tax benefits you showed the projects that could be accelerated. Is it possible for you to have a list on just the ones that could be accelerated?
Confirming Award of Contract to Van-Mack Electric ($229,768.00), Let on May 20, 2020, Briggs Street (CH 54) at the Mills Road (CH 51) Intersection Traffic Signal, County Board District #8
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Donald Gould, Member
SECONDER: Ray Tuminello, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
3. Confirming Award of Contract to D Construction Inc. ($299,634.48), Let on May 20, 2020, 191st Street (CH 84) from 80th Avenue to Harlem Avenue Overlay, County Board District #2
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
4. Confirming Award of Contract to Denler Inc. ($215,076.70), Let on May 20, 2020, Countywide Crack Sealing, All County Board Districts
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Ray Tuminello, Member
SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
5. Improvement by County Under the IL Highway Code for the Countywide Crack Sealing, using MFT Funds ($230,000.00), All County Board Districts
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Margaret Tyson, Member
SECONDER: Mimi Cowan, Vice-Chair
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
6. Confirming Award of Contract to Superior Road Striping ($297,002.00), Let on May 20, 2020, Countywide Raised Reflective Pavement Markers, All County Board Districts
(Jeff Ronaldoson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Mark Ferry, Member
SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
7. Improvement by County Under the IL Highway Code for the Countywide Raised Reflective Pavement Markers, using MFT Funds ($315,000.00), All County Board Districts
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member
SECONDER: Donald Gould, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
8. Confirming Award of Contract to P.T. Ferro Construction Co. ($86,638.57), Let on May 20, 2020, Manhattan Road District Overlay in the Ranch Oaks Subdivision, County Board District #2
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Jim Moustis, Member
SECONDER: Margaret Tyson, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
9. Confirming Award of Contract to D Construction Inc. ($124,717.38), Let on May 20, 2020, Troy Road District Overlay on Various Roads, County Board Districts #6 & #10
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Donald Gould, Member
SECONDER: Meta Mueller, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
10. Authorizing Approval of Professional Services Agreement for Right-of-Way Acquisition Services (Appraisals and Negotiations) with Hampton, Lenzini, and Renwick Inc. for Several Parcels of Property along Bell Road (CH 16) from 151st Street North to Martingale Lane, County Board District #7
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Margaret Tyson, Member
SECONDER: Donald Gould, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
11. Authorizing Approval of Professional Services Agreement for Design Engineering Services (Phase II) with H. W. Lochner Inc. on the Laraway Road (CH 74) and U.S. Route 52 Intersection, County Board Districts #8 and #12
(Jeff Ronaldson)
RESULT: MOVED FORWARD [UNANIMOUS] Next: 6/18/2020 9:30 AM
TO: Will County Board
MOVER: Margaret Tyson, Member
SECONDER: Mark Ferry, Member
AYES: VanDuyne, Cowan, Ferry, Gould, Harris, Moustis, Mueller, Tuminello, Tyson
VIII. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
IX. DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION DISCUSSION
Mr. Ronaldson stated I have two announcements; many of you are familiar with Brandon Road; it has been closed by IDOT since January. That remains closed and there is no date as to when it will be opening. They are fabricating parts still; and the process is ongoing. We applied last month for our Bill 2020 Grant we applied for Laraway Road corridor between Nelson Road and Cedar Road a $12 million grant. We are now in the waiting stage of that.
X. STATE'S ATTORNEY DISCUSSION
XI. MONTHLY WORK REPORTS
1. Construction Status Report
(Jeff Ronaldson)
2. Maintenance Status Report
(Jeff Ronaldson)
3. Phase II Summary Report
(Jeff Ronaldson)
XII. REPORTS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
XIV. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT / ANNOUNCEMENTS
This section was first on the agenda today.
Mr. Van Duyne stated as many of you may have heard; with my deepest sympathy to let you know we lost a great man yesterday our County Executive Larry Walsh. He was a man who was not only respected not only locally at the State level; but also nationally. Larry sacrificed his personal life for over 40 years to serve the people of Elwood, Will County and the State of Illinois. I want to personally thank him for his leadership his guidance, open arms and especially his friendship. Larry Walsh Sr. you will be missed my friend. If I could ask you all to stand and give Larry a moment of silence. Thank you so much.
XV. EXECUTIVE SESSION
XVI. ADJOURNMENT
https://willcountyil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3782&Inline=True
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