Rock Island Today

Rock Island County Public Works Committee met June 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

1) Call to order and roll call

Committee members present: Chair Larry Burns, Edna Sowards, Ed Langdon, Bob Westpfahl

Committee members absent: Jeff Deppe, Richard Morthland, Robert Reagan, Ginny Shelton

Others present: Kenneth Maranda, Louisa Ewert, Josh Boudi, Kathy Swett, Chuck Layer, John Massa, Kurt Davis, Bill Long, April Palmer (8:36 a.m.)

2) Public Comments

There were no public comments.

3) Approval of the minutes from the May 7, 2018 meeting

Motion by: Ed Langdon

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

4) Reports to the committee

GIS

Mr. Boudi gave his monthly report. They launched the new parcel viewer web application. It can be found on the Home Page, Assessments, Recorders, as well as GIS. You can pull up parcels with aerial photography and it is linked to the tax pages too. It will be very convenient for users. They have completed and submitted the 2020 census. They have completed map updates for the Forest Preserve comprehensive plan that Bi-State submits for grant money. Farmland assessment land use updates are finished as well. They are still working on the tax parcel map updates for this year. $19,569 was received in recorder fee revenue for the month of May.

Motion by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd: Ed Langdon

Voice vote

Motion carried

Zoning and Building

Mr. Boudi gave the Zoning and Building report in Mr. Thorpe’s absence. They received a letter from IEMA in regards to the River Oaks Park demolishment. Funds were a little over $2 million that were received from IEMA. The $305,000 is the balance that was not used for demolition so we will be returning those funds to IEMA. There were two new residences in May, both in Bowling. The total evaluation was a little over $600,000.

Motion by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

Public Works

Mr. Massa gave the Public Works report. They hired a new assistant foreman on the 31st. His

name is Charles Reiss. There are also a couple new part time mowers on board. They are continuing routine maintenance. As far as the engineering department, they will have a state letting on the 15th of June for Knoxville Road. They are also working on plans for reroofing the dome in Hampton and possibly doing some repair work on the buildings at the Milan facility too.

Motion by: Ed Langdon

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

5) Building updates

Mr. Davis explained that they are continuing the relocation of offices. They have relocated Rock Island Tri-County Consortium. They were on the second floor and moved them behind the Treasurer’s office on the first floor. They put in new flooring that they paid for. They seem really happy. We are also starting to clean up the rooms across the hall so we can move County Board. We also ordered our first batch of LED lights for this building. We are looking for grants to help pay for it. We do need them right away so we have ordered some. They are supposed to last 66% longer and save us about $6 per bulb per year. They do cost about twice as much per bulb but we will recover the savings in about a year and a half. Motion by: Edna Sowards

2nd: Bob Westpfahl

Voice vote

Motion carried

6) Consider Zoning Board of Appeals cases

a. RZ-18-104, Martin & Kimberly Simms, Ag-2 to SE-2, Hampton Township

Mr. Boudi explained that this is a rezoning request from AG-2 to an SE-2. They are looking to split the parcel into 4 and 3 acres. There were no objectors present and the board anonymously approved the request.

b. RZ-18-105, Martin & Kimberly Simms, Ag-2 to SE-1, Hampton Township

Mr. Boudi explained that this is a request to consider a rezoning from AG-2 to an SE-2 for 3.21 acres. There were no objectors present and the board’s recommendation was to grant.

c. SU-18-207, Paul Wymore, Seasonal Recreational Use, Hampton Township

Mr. Boudi explained that this is a request to consider a rezoning from AG-2 to an SE-1 on Campbell’s Island. This is just a seasonal recreational use for a camper for the summer. There were no objectors present and the board’s recommendation was to grant.

Motion to approve items 6a, 6b, and 6c by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd: Ed Langdon

Voice vote

Motion carried

7) Consider Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Sheriff of Rock Island County, Rock

Island County, and the City of Moline Re: Oak Glen Property

Ms. Swett explained the intergovernmental agreement is up for consideration today regarding the Oak Glen Property. A few years ago the board voted to pass a resolution giving the Sheriff control of the property. Dave Ross had started talking to the City of Moline to sell the actual physical water tower that is on that property. They have been working with the Sheriff and the City of Moline. The City of Moline has a water business where they sell water to other municipalities such as Coal Valley and Silvis. They were looking for additional water storage. They were looking to purchase the physical tower which under Illinois EPA regulations they are required to own the tower so leasing the tower was not an option. Dave Ross had negotiated the sale price of $10. The Sheriff is fine with that. It is really in the spirit of working together. There is a 99 year lease for a small parcel strip of land around the tower that connects to the right of way. The City has inspected the water tower. There are a few components. There is the agreement for the actual sale of the tower, the intergovernmental agreement which is with the Sheriff but with a few components that involve the County related to tax things. If the Illinois Law were to change within the 99 year term of the lease, that the County Board wouldn’t fight any of their rights to try to not have to pay property taxes on it. The City is looking very far out into the future. We would agree into a construction easement should they ever have a need to tear that specific tower down and build a new tower in that location. The sheriff does use the parcel of land as a firing and explosives range. The City is very aware of it. Included in it are limitations on liability. They have to be responsible for their own safety and they can’t lease it to someone else. They can’t sell it to someone else. They can’t do anything with the parcel that they are leasing from us for 99 years that would inhibit the Sheriff’s ability to use the property around it. We are very well protected by the agreement. It has been a considerable back and forth with negotiating with the City for about 6-7 months. The intergovernmental agreement which the Sheriff is the primary signatory but the only affection that relate to the County Board have to do with not fighting certain tax processes later in the future and also because we are the owner of the property various things related to liability. The County would be the ones indemnified by the City should their actions cause any harm to anyone on the property. They have a goal to fence in the small area that they are using which they have already marked off. It is a pretty basic agreement. The Sheriff would get the $10. There are also royalties. The City wants to potentially lease the top of the water tower as a mini cell tower. The Sheriff would get a portion of any potential royalties for that which he could use for his operations. The City agrees to keep the property in good repair. They have to keep it mowed and maintain it. The Sheriff has the right to approve any substantial changes that they make. Mr. Westpfahl expressed concern with selling the water tower for $10.

Motion by: Ed Langdon

2nd : Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Opposed: Bob Westpfahl

Motion carried

8) Review and award bids received on Friday, June 8, 2018

a. Material bid for hot poured joint sealer

Mr. Massa explained that there was only one bid received from Riverstone Group for $12,150.00. The joint sealer is used to fill all the cracks and joints on our roads. It is one of our biggest maintenance problems so it is a high priority.

b. Levee mowing – Zuma/Canoe Creek Special Service Area

Mr. Massa explained that they received two bids, one from Legacy Corporation and one from Wainwright Construction. Legacy was the low bid at $6,862.50. That is for one mowing and we sent out for two mowing. It usually takes a good week to mow it. Last year was the first year that they bid it out and Legacy mowed it last year as well.

Motion to approve items 8a and 8b by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd : Ed Langdon

Voice vote

Motion carried

9) Consider Prevailing Wage Resolution

Mr. Massa explained that this is part of the prevailing wage law which requires any public body rewarding any contract for public work to pay prevailing wages for such work. It is an annual resolution that we do every June. It is pulled right off the Department of Labor’s website.

Motion by: Edna Sowards

2nd: Ed Langdon

Voice vote

Motion carried

10) Consider permission to close a portion of County Highway 59, Loud Thunder Road

Mr. Massa explained that this is an annual request for the closer of Loud Thunder Road from the Illinois Fire Department from Saturday, August 11th 9:00 a.m. until Sunday the 12th at 1:00 a.m. They provide all the traffic control, signage, and detours for the event.

Motion by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

11) Consider participation in Children’s Safety Expo (Snow Plow Truck Display)

Mr. Massa explained that they have done this for the last three years. It is an event put on by Senator Neil Anderson and Representative Tony McCombie held at Glenview Middle School on Saturday the 8th from 9:00 -12:00 p.m. They ask that we present a piece of equipment. Normally we take one of the plow trucks and send two employees. They show the children the truck and answer any questions. It is good publicity and we end up paying two employees for about 4-6 hours of overtime. We typically spend about $1,000 for the event.

Motion by: Ed Langdon

2nd : Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Opposed: Bob Westpfahl

Motion carried

12) Consider MFT Resolution for County Highway 11 Bridge

Mr. Massa explained that this is a Motor Fuel Tax resolution. We have a bridge on County

Highway 11. It is for $20,000 and is paid partially from MFT and most is paid by the local bridge fund. It triggers IDOT to review the plans and to have a material inspection.

Motion by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

13) Consider Supplemental Engineering Agreement

Mr. Massa explained that this is a supplemental engineering agreement for the bridge recently mentioned. It started last fall. We had a design change for the better. Under the bridge is all going to be encased in concrete. It will be less maintenance and the structure should last a lot longer. Changing the design has triggered a little more engineering that has to go to IDOT to get inspected. The engineering agreement adds about $7,500, almost $7,600 to the engineering cost. That was for the design and the reports that had to go to IDOT. We tried to make a June 8th letting for that because of the design change. The earliest would be late June but more than likely will be early August. This is just to do the additional engineering work.

Motion by: Ed Langdon

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

14) Consider Utility Agreement with New Windsor Cable

Mr. Massa explained that this is an utility agreement with New Windsor Cable. Most of their work is in Mercer County but they are looking to do work on County Highway 14, 190th Avenue, East of Sherrard. It runs right on the border of the County line. They have to have the agreement in place before they can do any work. Once the agreement is approved they still have to request a permit from our office anytime they do work on the right of way.

Motion by: Edna Sowards

2nd: Bob Westpfahl

Voice vote

Motion carried

15) Consider Bridge Inspection Agreement for Rock Island – Milan Parkway Bridge

Mr. Massa explained that this is a bridge inspection agreement for Rock Island-Milan Parkway Bridge. Every year we do a bridge inspection. Last year the federal highway, along with IDOT, reclassified all the roads in the State. They used to be classified as federal aid, secondary, they had all kinds of classifications. They tried to streamline and make it better. The Rock Island Milan Parkway increased classification to national highway system, NHS route. There is a little extra federal funding that you can apply for but is tough. It does trigger another type of inspection, they call it an element level inspection. That requires a different certification. We had to get a consultant to have it completed. It is pretty expensive, it is not to exceed $3,400. The first one is going to be more because of the initial documentation.

Motion by: Edna Sowards

2nd : Bob Westpfahl

Voice vote

Motion carried

16) Consider County Aid Request from Bowling Road District

Mr. Massa explained that this is a County aid request from Bowling Road District. They have a road on 42nd Street West, just south of 176th Avenue West. They had a structure that they are requesting work on. There is an estimate of $30,000. It would be split 50/50 so $15,000 for the Township and $15,000 for the County to replace that. Mr. Burns asked if it could be taken out of trade. Mr. Massa explained that they do. If it is a culvert that we can do, we charge equipment rental and labor. That pays our half and usually more.

Motion by: Bob Westpfahl

2nd: Edna Sowards

Voice vote

Motion carried

17) Review culvert quotes for Zuma Road District County Aid Project

Mr. Massa explained that they received culvert quotes last week for a county aide project that was approved last year. It is planned to do the repair this fall. It is a large 72 inch diameter pipe that we are going to replace. We received three bids. The low bid was $6,138.00 for the pipe. That will be used for this county aid project. The other two bids were at $7,203 and $7,700 so it was over $1,000 lower than the second bid.

Motion to approve the low bid by: Edna Sowards

2nd: Bob Westpfahl

Voice vote

Motion carried

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

Mr. Westpfahl asked about the weight limit posted on a county bridge. Mr. Massa explained that about two years legislation changed the way axel spacings on vehicles could go over bridges. When they did that they had to go through and evaluate all of the structures in the State of Illinois. They haven’t done all of ours yet so there could be more coming. It’s a concrete double box culvert. When they did that it lowered the weight limit on it. We can fix it by putting more cover on top of the box culvert. We don’t have a fix for it to do it right away. It is something that we will have to put into our capital improvement plans to see what we want to do. Mr. Westpfahl asked if people are crossing it anyway. Mr. Massa explained that he doesn’t know. They shouldn’t be which is why the signs are there.

19) Adjourn

Meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m. by Chair Larry Burns

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