LaSalle County Board approves land-use special uses and multiple highway funding agreements; buys tower site; adopts election-judge pay increase

At its March 10 meeting the LaSalle County Board approved a string of ordinances and resolutions covering land use permits, highway resurfacing and shoulder projects, bridge appropriations, intergovernmental cape-seal agreements, a property purchase for a communications tower, and an ordinance setting election-judge pay.

Key outcomes (votes and short descriptions):

- Land use approvals and variance - Ordinance 25-04, Joyce A. Tolte Trust: approved a special use to expand a nonconforming ATV sales and service use at 2498 N. Fifteenth Road in Streeter (A1 district). Motion carried by voice roll call; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-05, Sam Beats & Sons: approved a special use to expand a commercial grain storage facility at 4798 E. Fifth Road, Mendota Township (74-foot diameter bin and enclosed dump pit building). Motion carried; outcome: approved. - Ordinance 25-01 VAR, Sam Beats & Sons: variance approved to reduce front/road setback from 70 feet to 50 feet for the same Mendota Township parcel to allow the enclosed dump pit building; Zoning Board of Appeals had recommended unanimous approval. Motion carried; outcome: approved.

- County Highway and roadway funding (joint funding agreements and appropriations) - Resolution 25-06: Intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Troy Grove to include village streets in the county—s 2025 Cape Seal program; village to reimburse county for work and engineering ($32,000 approx. village work; $1,800 engineering fee). Motion carried by roll call; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-07: Joint funding agreement with Illinois Department of Transportation for HSIP funds for County Highway 4 (Morris Blacktop) from Illinois Route 71 to County Highway 15 — estimated cost about $1,557,172; county appropriated $1,100,000 from MFT; county successful in obtaining $600,000 HSIP funds for stabilized shoulders. Motion carried by roll call; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-08: Joint funding agreement for HSIP funds for County Highway 4 resurfacing from County Highway 15 to Grundy County line — estimated cost $2,039,824; county appropriated $1,200,000 from MFT and $600,000 match from special tax matching fund; motion carried; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-09: Joint funding agreement for Canal Road (County Highway 51) resurfacing using HSIP and STR funds; estimated cost $1,610,884 with county appropriating $400,000 from special tax matching fund; motion carried; outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-10: Appropriation of county bridge funds for multiple bridge and culvert projects across county highways (line-item appropriations listed by section); motion carried (24 ayes); outcome: approved. - Resolution 25-11: Intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Ransom to participate in 2025 cape seal program (Roosevelt, Garfield and part of Lincoln Streets), estimated village cost ~$52,000 and $3,000 engineering fee; motion carried; outcome: approved.

- Other measures - Ordinance setting election-judge per diem: Board approved updating per diem language and compensation as presented (motion carried by roll call). The county clerk noted the change aligns reimbursements; motion carried. - Resolution approving purchase of property for communications tower: Board approved acquiring property (amended resolution to permit up to $45,000 purchase price plus up to $5,000 for incidental fees). The Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) will cover insurance, maintenance and other operating costs; county to hold title because ETSB cannot. Motion carried. - Veterans Assistance Commission annual report placed on file by motion; motion carried.

What the approvals mean: The highway agreements secure HSIP federal funds and county matching appropriations to resurface multiple county roads and add two-foot asphalt shoulders and rumble-strip features in places; the bridge appropriations fund culvert and bridge replacements on the county system. The land-use ordinances permit expansion of existing commercial uses (ATV sales and a grain storage facility) and a setback variance necessary to construct an enclosed dump pit building for the grain facility.

Speakers and presenters at these agenda items included Mr. Gift (land-use presenter) and Mr. Erna (County Highway presenter); motions were moved and seconded by board members as recorded in the roll calls.

Ending: All listed measures were approved in unanimous or majority roll-call votes unless noted; the board will reconvene April 10, 2025.