LaSalle County’s board on Oct. 9 approved a series of bridge‑aid petitions for fiscal 2026 and authorized engineering contracts for multiple county highway projects.

County Highway staff presented a tabulation of 11 township petitions the highway committee recommended for county bridge aid. The projects include timber pile repairs and engineering for full bridge replacements across the county; the county engineer reported a total project list cost of $651,120, which the board said would be split roughly 50/50 between LaSalle County and the participating townships.

Board members asked about selection and timing. County Highway staff explained the petition process: townships submit candidate structures annually and bridge inspections on one‑, two‑ or four‑year cycles determine timber pile repair needs and replacement priorities. One example in the packet: Freedom Township engineering phases 1 and 2 for a bridge replacement estimated at $100,000; multiple timber pile repairs ranged from about $8,640 to $90,720 depending on the township and structure.

The board also approved a professional services agreement with Chamlin & Associates Inc. for phase 1 and 2 engineering services to remove and replace a cross culvert on County Highway 34 (structure SN 050‑5230) near the marina; the agreement carries an upper limit of $114,600. Highway staff said the existing south headwall is crumbling and the new structure will be longer and wider to better resist overtopping during a 15‑year flood event.

Separately, the board amended a local agency federal participation agreement for preliminary engineering on Sandy Cosgrove Road (North 2550 First Road / FAU 6118) to add $72,907 in estimated preliminary engineering 2 costs, funded with emergency relief and local funds; the county agreed to execute required IDOT documents and pass supplemental appropriations if needed.

Each of these highway measures passed on roll call (recorded as all ayes in the meeting minutes).