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Boone County approves engineering agreement and state grant steps for Pool Road crossing project
Summary
The board approved engineering services and accepted grant-related agreements to widen and realign Pool Road near a rail crossing; the project is expected to be 100% reimbursed under a competitive Great Crossing Protection Fund award, with a contingency intergovernmental agreement with Flora Township.
The Boone County Board approved a set of agreements Thursday to advance Pool Road improvements, including an engineering services contract and related intergovernmental and Illinois Commerce Commission paperwork tied to a competitive grant.
The board approved an engineering services agreement with Willett Hoffman & Associates for the Pool Road improvements. County staff said the project's engineering contract is being executed as a pass-through under a grant and that the county will pay upfront costs and be reimbursed afterwards. The motion specified a not-to-exceed figure for the county/bridge fund contribution of $40,540.25 and a total engineering cost in the roughly $162,000 range.
County Engineer Justin Kron (referred to in the meeting as “Mr. Kron”) told the board the grant funding from the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Great Crossing Protection Fund will reimburse planning, design and construction activities and that Canadian National will fund the bridge work; the grant covers local roadway work. Kron said the ICC agreement covers roughly $787,000 that will pay for Pool Road widening and realignment.
Board members discussed horizontal and vertical clearance decisions at the railroad crossing. Kron explained the design raises the tracks about 1 foot 5 inches and lowers the road a little over a foot; the railroad would not agree to additional track raising and lowering the road further would require drainage solutions such as a pump or lift station. The chosen solution increases the bridge span to provide a two-lane passage under the tracks while gaining limited vertical clearance because of larger structural members.
The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement with Flora Township that requires township participation at a 50% rate only for costs that are not reimbursed by the grant, a contingency step intended to protect the county budget if reimbursements or scope change. County staff told the board the road commissioner supports the project and that IDOT has approved the current design.
The motions passed via roll call; board members were warned the county will initially cover costs and seek full reimbursement under the grant.
