McLean County committee approves multiple road projects, mutual-aid pact and one-lot subdivision

The McLean County Land Use and Transportation Committee approved a package of road and bridge projects, an amended intergovernmental agreement for the Route 66 bikeway, an intergovernmental mutual-aid contract and a one-lot subdivision during its March 4 meeting.

The approvals include bid awards and fund-authorizing resolutions for resurfacing, culvert replacements and other county highway work; authorization to begin federally funded design work with a required local match on Anchor Road; an updated Route 66 bikeway agreement; an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network; and a final plat waiver for a 3.32-acre one-lot subdivision in Old Town Township.

Committee Chair Cline opened the meeting and the panel took unanimous voice votes on each item, with Vice Chair Reeves noted as absent. The actions move routine maintenance and federally supported projects toward design and letting, amend shared maintenance obligations on a long-running bikeway partnership, and approve a small residential subdivision.

County highway official Jerry Stokes described multiple projects that the committee approved. He said the materials letting for the Lexington–Leroy Road project was awarded to Stark Excavating and that delivery of prefabricated aluminum box culvert components will likely take "about six to eight weeks." The committee approved that materials letting by voice vote.

Stokes said the committee also approved a joint culvert replacement with Yates Road District to replace two mismatched, deteriorated culverts where water currently flows over the road during heavy rains. "This should eliminate the water going over the road during heavy rains," he said.

The panel approved a motor fuel tax and highway-fund resolution to resurface Towanda–Gridley Road (County Highway 29). Stokes said the project is about six miles long, runs north of the interstate to the PJ Keller Highway and has an approximate cost of $3,000,000; the county plans to finalize plans and solicit bids in April with board approval to follow in May.

The committee authorized preliminary work and matching funds for Anchor Road under a federal surface transportation funding arrangement Stokes described as an 80/20 split. He said McLean County recently received an allotment letter and that the authorization allows the county to begin engineering and environmental clearances for a project scheduled for 2026. Stokes noted the county receives roughly $1.4 million per year in the referenced federal allotments and said the county may pursue Truck Access Route (TARP) funds as a local match if that program is available.

A highway-fund resolution for repairs in the village of Cooksville also passed. Stokes said the in-town section will be reconstructed and a south rural section will receive pavement-preservation treatment as part of the county's oil-and-chip program; he estimated the work that limits south access would take about two weeks.

Committee members voted to approve an updated intergovernmental agreement and accompanying resolution with the Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network. Stokes said McLean County joined IPWMAN in July and the network restructured as an intergovernmental entity in October, requiring an updated agreement. Members asked about liability; Stokes said the county "retains liability for our own" equipment unless another party is at fault, and that assistance requests may be declined if local needs are greater during a widespread disaster.

The committee approved an amendment to the longstanding intergovernmental Route 66 bikeway development and maintenance agreement. Stokes said the 1999 agreement was updated to reflect 2020 population breakouts and to remove obsolete funding-source references so municipalities can use new or different grant sources going forward. He noted the final section for McLean County is nearing construction and that administrative staff have applied for a grant to continue phase one of the bikeway.

Phil, a Building and Zoning staff member, presented a final plat item for Tippsward Subdivision (case S-25-1), an application by ACJL, LLC. The committee approved a waiver of preliminary plan requirements and a one-lot final plat. The lot contains 3.32 acres and the application is for a house for the applicant's mother; staff noted the lot has frontage on a public road and will use an existing farm driveway. Phil said subdivision rules allow a future separate driveway if the owners later choose to install one. The zoning special-use permitting process was noted as a separate step.

Votes at a glance: - 4A1A: Materials letting for Lexington'Leroy Road (Stark Excavating low bidder) — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Fagan, second by Member Abel); exact tally not specified. - 4A1B: Bridge construction petition / joint culvert replacement No. 1, Yates Road District — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Leffler, second by Member Fagan); exact tally not specified. - 4A1C: Motor Fuel Tax and highway-fund resolutions for Towanda'Gridley Road (CH 29) — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Duffy, second by Member Abel); estimated cost ~ $3,000,000; exact tally not specified. - 4A1D: Motor Fuel Tax and matching-fund resolutions for Anchor Road (CH 7) — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Duffy, second by Member Abel); federal 80/20 match; county allotment letter received; exact tally not specified. - 4A1E: Highway-fund resolution for Cooksville Road (CH 17) — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Zivar, second by Member Abel); in-town reconstruction and rural pavement preservation; exact tally not specified. - 4A1F: Resolution and intergovernmental agreement with Illinois Public Works Mutual Aid Network (IPWMAN) — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Fagan, second by Member Duffy); agreement allows mutual assistance between jurisdictions; exact tally not specified. - 4A1G: Amended intergovernmental agreement for Route 66 bikeway development and maintenance — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Leffler, second by Member Duffy); updates population breakouts and removes obsolete funding-source language; exact tally not specified. - 4B1A: ACJL, LLC (Nicholas Tippsward), case S-25-1: waiver of preliminary plan and one-lot subdivision final plat (Tippsward Subdivision, Old Town Township) — approved by voice vote (motion by Member Leffler, second by Member Duffy); lot = 3.32 acres; exact tally not specified.

Committee administration noted the next Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting will be in April at 8:30 a.m. The meeting adjourned after the listed items without further public appearances or contested votes.