Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Highways and Buildings Committee met March 15.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Members Present:

Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Webber, Ms. Evans, Ms. Peters, and Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, and Mr. Kinzinger

Members Absent:

Mr. LaGesse, Mr. Olthoff, Ms. Polk, and Mr. Einfeldt

In Attendance:

• Board Members

Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Liehr, and Mr. Hess

• Department Heads

Mark Rogers 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: February 15, 2018

Ms. Parker made a motion to approve the minutes, and Mr. Tripp seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

4. Highways - Mark Rogers

• Bidding and Letting

Mr. Hildebrand made a motion to open and read the bids, and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

a) Ganeer-18-04000-00-GM

b) Norton-18-09136-01-AS

c) Pilot-18-12000--00-GM

d) Pilot-18-12108-01-AS

Mr. Tripp made a motion to accept the lowest bids upon review, and Mr. Hildebrand seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Webber, Ms. Evans, Ms. Peters, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Wheeler.

• County Engineer’s Pay Estimates

Mr. Liehr made a motion to approve the pay estimates, and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Webber, Ms. Evans, Ms. Peters, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Wheeler.

• Resolutions

a)         Resolution Appropriating County Bridge Funds for the Repair of the Kankakee River Bridge in Aroma Park

Mr. Rogers stated that he believes the cost to repair the bridge will be approximately $25,000. Mr. Vickery made a motion to approve the resolution, and Ms. Peters seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Webber, Ms. Evans, Ms. Peters, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Wheeler.

b) Resolution Reappointing Mark R. Rogers as Kankakee County Engineer

Ms. Peters made a motion to approve the resolution, and Mr. Tripp seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 12 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were Mr. McConnell, Mr. Tripp, Mr. Vickery, Mr. Mulcahy, Mr. Hildebrand, Ms. Webber, Ms. Evans, Ms. Peters, Ms. Parker, Mr. Ritter, Mr. Kinzinger, and Mr. Wheeler.

Mr. Vickery made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss the Old Business topic on the State Line Bridge Communication from Lake County, Indiana, and Mr. Wheeler seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

Mr. Rogers discussed the history of the bridge with the committee. It was inspected and posted in 1996. In 2010, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the Federal Highway Administration, Indiana State Historic Preservation Office, INDOT, Lake County Board of Commissioners, and the Kankakee County Board. The bridge was closed in 2000. Recent bids obtained through Lake County, Indiana, indicate repairs to the bridge would cost in excess of $7.5 million dollars. The Lake County Board of Commissioners is requesting a meeting with signatories from the 2010 Memorandum of Agreement to consider Lake County’s proposed amendment.

Mr. Wheeler stated that Kankakee County could not afford matching 10% of $7.5 million for repairs. Also, Lake County has suggested possibly dismantling the bridge, inventorying it, and later reassembling it in an area of public use. However, no dollar amount to do so has been identified. He agreed with the need to meet and discuss this issue, and is asking this committee for their input.

Mr. Vickery stated that the problems lie in the various agencies and the restrictions placed on the project. There is no area around the bridge to store construction equipment and materials while repairs are underway.

Mr. Hess stated that, if nothing is done, the bridge will soon cease to exist. People are stealing metal off the bridge and there are several logs pushing up against it. Should the bridge collapse, it would do so on the Illinois side of the state line in the river. The cost to have a collapsed bridge removed from the river would be exorbitant. Also, if the bridge did collapse, he feels Indiana would not pay any portion of the cost to have the bridge extracted from the river.

Mr. Rogers indicated the unknowns to include whether or not federal funds would be available, if Kankakee County could be deemed financially responsible for a portion of costs, the fact there is no agreement in place between Newton, Lake, and Kankakee counties, and if federal funds could be used to dismantle the bridge.

Mr. Vickery asked that he be included in the meeting with Indiana.

Mr. Wheeler felt his presence would be helpful and it is a good idea for him to be included in the meeting.

5. Buildings - Brian Gadbois

Mr. Gadbois stated that R22 Freon is to be outlawed in the United States by 2020. The date may have been extended to 2030, but he is unsure of that. He mentions this because much of the County’s equipment runs on R22. He is suggesting that the County take this into consideration when it comes to equipment repairs and replacements.

Mr. Gadbois also stated that his last day with the County is June 29th.

• Facility Dude Report

• Financial Report

• Building Report

Mr. Gadbois reviewed and discussed the above reports with the committee.

Mr. Gadbois stated that bidding for the new Courthouse rotunda roof is to be advertised soon. He hopes to have it announced and have bids available to open for the April 12th meeting.

Mr. Gadbois stated that the inmate elevator at the old jail is not working. He believes the jack or hydraulics may need to be replaced, and to do so will be very expensive. He has scheduled an inspection and estimate for later today and will report findings to the committee at the April meeting.

Mr. Gadbois stated that the ICE inspections at the new jail are on April 9th, 10th, and 11th.

6. ADA – Pam Fogarty

• Progress

Ms. Fogarty provided the committee with a report of ADA action items completed, in progress, and those in need of attention. She thanked Mr. Gadbois and his crew for their outstanding work in bringing items into compliance.

• Subcommittee

Ms. Fogarty stated that she would like to form an ADA subcommittee to address ADA architectural issues and barriers. She asked anyone who would like to join to contact her.

Mr. Wheeler commented on the two largest action items to be addressed -- the accessible remodel of Courtroom 204 and a new ADA compliant ramp. The cost for both will be considerable; however, once completed, the Courthouse will be deemed compliant as long as a continued transition plan remains in place.

7. Old Business

None

8. New Business

None

9. Other Business

None

10. Adjournment

Ms. Evans made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:17 a.m., and Mr. Hildebrand seconded it. Motion carried with a voice vote.

http://www.co.kankakee.il.us/files/committees/highways_31518.pdf