Rock Island County Public Works Committee met May 7.

By Lhalie Castillo

Jun 14, 2018

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

1) Call to order and roll call

Committee members present: Chair Larry Burns, Jeff Deppe, Ginny Shelton, Ed Langdon, Edna Sowards, Bob Westpfahl

Committee members absent: Richard Morthland, Robert Reagan

Others present: Kenneth Maranda, Dewayne Cremeens, Kurt Davis, John Massa, Pat Koranda, Louisa Ewert, Greg Thorpe, Dewayne Cremeens, Chuck Layer, Bill Long, John McGehee (8:44 a.m.)

2) Public Comments

There were no public comments.

3) Approval of the minutes from the April 9, 2018 meeting

Motion to approve: Ginny Shelton

2nd: Bob Westfpahl

Voice vote

Motion carried

4) Reports to the Committee

GIS-

Mr. Thorpe gave the GIS report in Mr. Boudi’s absence. They have continued work on the 2020 local update of census addresses operation (LUCA), continued work on map updates for the forest preserve plan, and continued work on annual use updates for farmland assessments. The GIS department received $19,497 in recorder fee revenue for the month of April.

Motion to approve: Ed Langdon

2nd: Ginny Shelton

Voice vote

Motion carried

Mr. Maranda asked for an update on the solar panels.

Mr. Thorpe explained that Arrowhead Ranch was approached to do a small solar farm operation but nothing has been decided. They started talking to us and we mentioned that Oak Glen land has a good chunk of acreage. There is nothing official yet but they are exploring options at this time.

Zoning and Building-

Mr. Thorpe gave his monthly report. The Zoning and Building department had a total of 107 receipts for a net revenue of $30,190.00. There was an estimated value of work of $2.7 million. Compared to last year, there was a little more activity with 131 permits and $27,050.00 in revenue and $2.2 million in work. Year to date we are a little ahead in receipts and a little behind in fees. We are at 40% of revenue at this point. Mr. Thorpe added that he included a report of the houses broke down, out of the 9 houses, the average per square foot was $148.33 which is high. Normally they are $110/$120. Bowling township has 8 of the 9 new houses.

Mr. Langdon asked how many vacant houses we have in Rock Island County.

Mr. Thorpe explained that it isn’t something that is tracked.

Mr. Langdon added there are a lot of houses on Coaltown Road but didn’t know if the houses were still owned or abandoned.

Mr. Thorpe added that he hadn’t heard anything about it but if he had some addresses he could look into it.

Motion to approve: Ed Sowards

2nd: Ginny Shelton

Voice vote

Motion carried

Public Works-

Mr. Massa explained that the maintenance staff has been shoulder rocking most of the month. The engineering department is on track for having 2 lettings in June. One will be on a state letting because it has federal money in it and the other one will be a local letting. One is for a bridge and New Boston blacktop. The other is for Knoxville Road. They also hope to get started this month on doing a request for proposal for the guardrail upgrade. This past week they had the hazard assessment risk management guy come out a couple days and went through a tour to see if there are any safety hazards and how to address them. They talk about the person protective policy and went onsite to view a construction site and also did about a half a day of training for the guys. Mr. Massa added that he would bring the “touch a truck” in June. They have been participating in the event for three years and bring a couple guys on a Saturday for about 4-6 hours. They have municipalities bring in different things like fire engines. Mr. Massa also explained that the special service area for Zuma Canoe Creek is going to be doing some repairs so the committee will likely see a bill next month. They haven’t hired an assistant foreman. They have made offers to a couple people but they had other offers. It is still posted online and plugging away slowly.

Ms. Shelton asked if there is any chance of promoting from within.

Mr. Massa explained that they had a chance but no one wants to apply.

Motion to approve: Jeff Deppe

2nd: Bob Westpfahl

Voice vote

Motion carried

5) County Office Building updates

Mr. Davis explained that there has been some movement. They relocated Veteran’s Affairs back to the basement from second floor. Then we can get that office ready for Halpin in order to shuffle things around to make room for the Recorder of Deeds into the building.

They tried to activate the AC unit in the building but found a water pipe leak so they are addressing that now. They are also doing some wiring for the installation of a new IP system with hopes to have parts in place in the next month or so.

Mr. Westpfahl asked how much it will cost.

Mr. Davis explained that it is coming out of the Public Building Commission because the phone system that is required for the building doesn’t work with our phone system here so they are upgrading our phone system. Right now we have digital phones which is the older system phone and with the new system that is going into the new building doesn’t work together with our phones. The new software would not support our phones, we would need new phones. He added that they received the bids 6-8 months ago and doesn’t have the exact figure for cost but it is in that budget and is part of the project.

Motion to approve: Ed Langdon

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

6) Consider ZBA cases:

a. SU-18-206, Mark Doonan, Density Increase in AG-1; Edgington Township

Mr. Thorpe explained that this is a special use permit request for a density increase. They split 5 acres on the farm. There were no objectors present and the board’s recommendation was to grant.

Mr. Westpfahl asked how this is different from the last time when they wouldn’t bring it before the board.

Mr. Thorpe explained that they worked something out with Rursch buying the farm ground. The deed restriction for this is being placed on Rursch’s property. It joins this piece.

Motion to approve: Jeff Deppe

2nd: Ed Langdon

Voice vote

Motion carried

7) Request from River Action to use Campbell’s Island for the Father’s Day Ride the River

Mr. Massa explained that River Action would like to do Ride the River on Father’s Day. He explained that they were going to get the official letter to him on Friday but that didn’t happen. It is an annual event but they haven’t used Campbell’s Island since 1999. They have not used Campbell’s Island for quite a while. They wanted to come on the Island, turn left, and cone off a specific lane on bikes which shortens the road where you can’t have two way vehicle traffic. When they asked to do it in 99 they went on the Island and went to the right so they went counter clockwise and stayed in the outside lane but they didn’t put up any bicycle traffic control, no cones. Mr. Massa added that he didn’t know what kind of traffic control would be used for bikes. They are okay to use the road. Mr. Massa explained that he does not have an exact plan for the committee to approve but since it is in June we have to decide this month. If the State’s Attorney’s office and himself are both on the same page and limits our liability, to make this work, he is asking for that approval. Half of it is Township Road and half is County Road so they are working with Hampton township as well. Mr. Massa added that no matter what you cone off, now you have made the vehicle lanes too small for two way traffic or pushing cars to the shoulder and we don’t want to do that.

Mr. Deppe explained that Moline allows the cones but also has cops at each end.

Mr. Massa added that we would definitely have a deputy, at least one.

Mr. Deppe added that having cones is not a bad idea but is worried about the risk liability.

Mr. Cremeens mentioned that there were a lot of bikes last week and a couple days before they had signs out to watch for the bike path and then at the event they had a couple of officers.

Mr. Massa explained that he believes they do have fliers to pass out to those on the Island so they know the event is going on.

Mr. McGehee explained that just opening up the road doesn’t create negligence of the County.

There has to be a specific action done by someone to prove negligence. He added that he thinks these kinds of cases are difficult to prove. If an automobile is driving and not paying attention and hits somebody, the liability falls on the driver. Unless something is done that creates negligence then the County is liable.

Mr. Deppe asked if putting cones out would be negligence.

Mr. McGehee explained that it depends on where the cones are.

Mr. Massa added that he is asking that if they can work something out while working with the State’s Attorney’s office.

Mr. Deppe made a motion to give Mr. Massa permission to work with John (Mr. McGehee) to proceed forward because it is a great event.

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Mr. Westpfahl voted no

Motion carried

8) Committee member opportunity for brief comments (no decisions will be made)

There were no brief comments.

9) Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 9:01 by Jeff Deppe.