Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Highways and Buildings Committee met Sept. 14.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Olthoff, Ms. Polk, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Einfeldt, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger 

Members Absent Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Evans, and Ms. Peters In Attendance

• Board Members Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Liehr

• Department Heads 

Mark Rogers, Lori Gadbois, and Brian Gadbois Media None

1. Call to Order

• Roll Call The meeting was called to order by the Committee Chairman, Mr. McConnell, at 9:00 a.m. Quorum present.

2. Public Comment 

None

3. Approval of Minutes: August 10, 2017 Mr. Olthoff made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. LaGesse seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Highways - Mark Rogers

• Bidding and Letting a) Sale of Surplus Equipment Mr. Einfeldt made a motion to open the bids, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Rogers opened the bids and read them to the committee. He stated that this is their annual surplus equipment sale. Mr. Einfeldt made a motion to accept the bids as approved, and Ms. Polk seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

• County Engineer’s Pay Estimates 

Mr. Rogers reviewed and discussed the pay estimates with the committee. Ms. Parker made a motion to approve the pay estimates, and Mr. LaGesse seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Olthoff, Ms. Polk, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Einfeldt, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Wheeler.

• Resolutions 

a) Resolution Declaring a Portion of Armour Road the Honorary Street Name of “Sgt. Wilford Ray Lewis Drive” in the Village of Bradley 

Ms. Gadbois stated that she is the chairperson of Bradley’s Police and Fire Commission. She read the County resolution into the record declaring a portion of Armour Road (CH44) the honorary street name of “Sgt. Wilford Ray Lewis Drive”.

Chief Johnson from the Bradley Police Department expressed his appreciation to Ms. Gadbois and Mr. Rogers for their help in getting this accomplished. Mr. LaGesse made a motion to accept the resolution, and Mr. Tripp seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

b) Resolution Authorizing the County Board Chairman to Sign an Agreement for the County of Kankakee to Join to Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network 

Ms. Polk made a motion to waive the reading of the resolution, and Mr. Ritter seconded it. Mr. Rogers stated that the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN) is a mutual aid agency that is in all corners of the state. Their main message is that it’s not a matter of “if” a disaster is going to strike, it’s “when”. It was established in 2009, with 300 agencies that participate in the organization. Under the agreement, the County not only asks for assistance, but is asked to give assistance as well, but there is no obligation to respond. After a disaster, the assistance that is provided only starts to cost after the first five days. The dues would be $500 a year, which he thinks is very reasonable insurance for something like this. He was told this only applies to County highways, so he encourages other townships to join, the dues being $100 per year if there is a population of less than 15,000. As of now, the only other township in the County that has joined is the Village of Manteno. 

Mr. LaGesse made a motion to approve the resolution, and Mr. Vickery seconded it.

Discussion: 

Mr. Kinzinger stated that there is no limit on the requested aid, so he asked who makes the decision as to how many resources are sent to the affected area.

Mr. Rogers stated that we have the right to limit the aid, and can choose to not respond at all.

Mr. Kinzinger asked Mr. Rogers to explain the liability.

Mr. Rogers stated that when you help other communities, you want to make sure that the liability is ok, as the employees going to help in the communities are only covered under County workman’s compensation, not the affected area.

Mr. Tripp asked if the department volunteers the employee, or would he go on his own.

Mr. Rogers stated that we would send the employee.

Mr. Wheeler stated that they need to make sure that the liability and workman’s compensation rates are not affected.

Mr. Rogers stated that he has not heard anything that suggests a rate hike from other areas that are part of IPWMAN.

Mr. Wheeler asked if we would get reimbursed if federal disaster aid was issued.

Mr. Rogers stated that we would.

Mr. Kinzinger asked Mr. Rogers what the biggest advantage is to entering into this agreement.

Mr. Rogers stated that the resources that can be provided from 300 agencies when disaster happens would be the biggest advantage. Original motion amended to accept the resolution as read upon approval by the State’s Attorney’s office. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 13 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Olthoff, Ms. Polk, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Einfeldt, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Wheeler.

5. Buildings - Brian Gadbois

• Facility Dude Report

• Financial Reports

• Building Report Mr. Gadbois reviewed and discussed the reports with the committee.

• Declaration of Items as Surplus Property 

Mr. Gadbois stated that he has 25 office chairs, 2 metal desks, 2 wooden bookcases, and a metal shelving unit from when they moved the State’s Attorney’s office. None of it is in good condition, so he would like to be able to get rid of it all. 

Mr. Olthoff made a motion to declare these items surplus, and Mr. Einfeldt seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

6. Old Business

7. New Business

8. Other Business

9. Adjournment 

Mr. LaGesse made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:08 a.m., and Mr. Einfeldt seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/highway_91417.pdf