Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Highways and Buildings Committee met July 16.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Hess, Ms. Polk, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Ms. Haas, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Zenz, Mr. Smith and Mr. Long

Members Absent

Mr. Tholen, Mr. Dunnill and Mr. Hunter

In Attendance

Mr. Wheeler

Department Heads

Mark Rogers, Anita Speckman and Wes Andrews

• Media

None

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Kinzinger, at 9:00 a.m.

Mr. Kinzinger spoke in remembrance of Mr. George Washington Jr.

Quorum present.

2. Public Comment

None

3. Approval of Minutes: June 11, 2020

Mr. Long made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Ekhoff seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Hess, Ms. Polk,

Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Ms. Haas, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Zenz, Mr. Smith,

Mr. Long and Mr. Wheeler

4. Highways – Mark Rogers

• Bidding and Letting

None

• County Engineer’s Pay Estimates

Mr. Rogers reviewed and read the County Engineer’s Pay Estimates with the committee.

Mr. Long made a motion to approve the pay estimates, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Hess,

Ms. Polk, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Ms. Haas, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Zenz,

Mr. Smith, Mr. Long and Mr. Wheeler

• Resolutions

None

Mr. Snipes asked about the bridge that he had inquired on in the past on River Street and he saw that repairs were being made. He was happy to see that addressed.

Mr. Rogers spoke about the Rebuild Illinois funds and will present those to the board in the near future. The funds have to be spent by July of 2025.

Mr. Wheeler asked about River Lane in his district and the road is owned by the residents. The road is in disrepair and it’s expensive to repair that road, is it possible for the county to acquire that. Is it correct that it would have to be widened and within the standards?

Mr. Rogers stated that there is not enough space in order for that road to meet the minimum standards and the township wouldn’t be required to obtain that road. Mr. Rogers stated that it was looked at one time.

5. Buildings-Wes Andrews

Mr. Andrews discussed and reviewed the monthly reports with the committee.

• Facility Dude Report

There were 203 work orders for the month.

• Financial Report

Mr. Andrews reviewed the financial report with the committee. Mr. Andrews stated that there will be expenses coming up that will be brought back to the committee in the future for JCDC.

Mr. Andrews stated that the budget is on track from where it was last year, even with factoring in the changes with COVID and employee increases.

• Building Report

Mr. Andrews reviewed the county buildings with the committee and coordinating outside contractors within safety guidelines.

Mr. Andrews stated constellation will be paying General Energy on our behalf for the LED upgrade.

Mr. Wheeler stated keeping the jail COVID free is crucial for the buildings, especially the jail.

Mr. Andrews stated that the Sheriff Department will be creating the guidelines and protocol for that.

Mr. Snipes commented on the amount of work that is done in house and the cost savings that he provides the county.

Mr. Andrews continued to review the county buildings with the committee and the cleaning processes that are in place.

Mr. Andrews stated that an intercom in the entry of the Annex Building for safety reasons, the cost is about $1,232 and Mr. Andrews recommends that get done. The committee agreed.

Mr. Andrews detailed the work that has been done and being done at JCDC. An Inverter was replaced that went out. The inverter is original to the building and powers many components for the building. There is also a Phase 1 inverter that has voltage issues and the battery system has a life of 5 years. The batteries are needing to be corrected. There are 2 options. To replace all 40 batteries that are at their life for about $8,000 or replace 1 battery for $900.

Mr. Kinzinger stated that all the batteries need to be replaced.

Mr. Wheeler stated that these types of repairs are necessary and at the end of the year the budget will be looked at. Mr. Wheeler agreed that all the batteries should be replaced. The committee agreed.

6. OldBusiness

Mr. Wheeler spoke about the tree limb that fell on Court Street and that the City of Kankakee assisted in the cleanup of the tree that was blocking Court street and thanked the city for how quickly the responded.

7. NewBusiness

None

8. OtherBusiness

None

9. Adjournment

Mr. Hess made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:44 a.m., and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting ate were: Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Hess, Ms. Polk, Mr. Snipes, Ms. Peters, Ms. Haas, Mr. Carrico, Mr. Ekhoff, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Zenz, Mr. Smith, Mr. Long and Mr. Wheeler

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/highways_71620.pdf