Kendall County engineering and Road & Bridge staff described capital and operational plans for road projects at the June 12 budget workshop and recommended renting major equipment rather than buying until staffing and crew capacity can support ownership.

Engineer Mary Ellen (last name not specified) told the court she cut operating and contract services forecasts after accounting for equipment already purchased and grant‑funded work. She said the county previously budgeted for a high capital amount (including iPads and a vehicle) and that current savings stem from items already bought or delayed.

A major point of debate was whether to buy or rent a road reclaimer (a machine used to stabilize and rehabilitate pavement). Staff said a reclaimer purchase would be a very large capital expense (estimates near $660,000 in discussion) and requires dedicated crews to justify ownership; instead, staff recommended renting the machine for about $25,000–$30,000 per month for focused, short projects and mobilizing two crews when rented.

Staff also proposed moving some Road & Bridge salaries and benefits into Fund 11 (the Road & Bridge fund supported largely by vehicle registration sales tax receipts and a $10 license add‑on), starting with supervisory and administrative positions, to reduce pressure on the general fund. County Auditor Corinna described Fund 11 as replenishing from vehicle dealer sales/registration receipts and said the fund’s balance has grown, allowing the county to begin paying certain salaries directly from the fund.

Ending: Commissioners asked Road & Bridge and engineering staff to return in round two with a prioritized list of road projects by precinct and with cost estimates for renting a reclaimer for specific work windows; no capital purchase decision was made at the workshop.