Stephenson County OKs federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grants, engineering agreements and guardrail contract

Stephenson County board members approved multiple applications for the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), authorized four engineering agreements to prepare grant applications, and approved a low-bid award for a guardrail project after questions about costs and matching funds.

At the meeting, County Board Member William Hadley asked whether engineering work must be complete before applying for grants. A staff member replied the engineering agreements before the board were intended to prepare the grant applications. Public Works Committee Chair Brian Brandt presented four engineering agreements (HD2510, 20511, 20512 and 25213) and the board approved them by roll call, 14-1.

Board members discussed a guardrail project that had received three bids; the low bidder was identified as Northern. Staff said the department had a grant for approximately $1,000,000 and that the county’s match would be $100,000 under a 90/10 funding split. One board member asked about whether budget money was available this year; staff confirmed funds were budgeted. The consent agenda items that included the HSIP grants and the guardrail contract were approved earlier in the meeting by roll call, 14-1.

Public works reported the 2025 construction season was underway, including a multi-mile closure on Cedar Hill Road and a pavement preservation program that will seal-coat multiple miles of county roads. The public works committee said the pavement preservation program is progressing and highlighted Lamb Road and other projects in the county’s pavement program.

The board did not provide additional project-level details such as specific contractor timelines or final construction schedules during the meeting; the engineering agreements authorize staff to proceed with preparing the grant applications and related engineering work.