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Committee approves highway lettings, engineering contract, solid‑waste renewal and four solar escrow agreements
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Summary
At its Jan. 6 meeting the committee approved a construction letting and materials contract, an annual engineering services agreement, a three‑year solid‑waste program agreement (passed with two abstentions), and four escrow agreements for commercial solar projects previously approved by the county board.
The McLean County Land Use and Transportation Committee approved several formal actions at its Jan. 6 meeting, including highway project lettings, an engineering services contract, a solid‑waste program renewal and escrow agreements for four commercial solar projects.
Consent agenda: The committee approved the consent agenda (minutes from Dec. 2, 2025, and payment of bills and transfers). Motion by Member Reeves, second by Member Fagan; recorded voice vote in favor.
Hudson West Road letting and materials: The committee approved a resolution for the 12/18/2025 construction project and materials letting, which includes the Hudson West Road reconstruction (two miles west of Hudson from Rock Road to just west of I‑39). Highway staff said HJ Apple was the low bidder and construction is expected to begin March 1, weather permitting. Motion by Member Leffler, second by Member Reeves; passed unanimously.
Engineering services agreement: The committee approved the annual engineering services agreement with Lewis, Yockey, and Brown Incorporated to provide miscellaneous surveying services, primarily resetting section corners for five planned paving projects. Motion by Member Reeves, second by Member Loeffler; passed unanimously.
Solid waste program agreement (5b1a): Michael Brown presented a three‑year renewal of the existing intergovernmental agreement among the Ecology Action Center, McLean County, the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal to help the county comply with the Illinois Solid Waste Planning and Management Act and five‑year planning requirements. For the record, Chair and Member Bessler said they would abstain because of conflicts; the agreement passed with three votes in favor and two abstentions.
Solar escrow agreements (5b1b): The committee approved four escrow agreements for commercial solar energy generating facilities between Pure Sky Energy, McLean County and KeyBank. Michael Brown said the projects had gone through public hearings and county board approvals in 2024 and must have escrow agreements before construction permitting and occupancy. Brown explained the escrow schedule: no money is due until the end of the first year, then an initial 10% payment, with larger percentages to follow; the final payment timeline discussed was 10 years. The vote to approve all four escrow agreements was unanimous.
What was not decided: No adoption actions were taken on regional planning documents; the strategic land use plan was received and filed by the Regional Planning Commission and awaits local adoption processes.
Vote provenance (selected): consent agenda — motion: Member Reeves; second: Member Fagan; result: approved (voice vote) (SEG 007–017). Hudson West Road/materials letting (5a1a) — motion: Member Leffler; second: Member Reeves; result: approved unanimously (SEG 401–427). Engineering services (5a1b) — motion: Member Reeves; second: Member Loeffler; result: approved unanimously (SEG 428–452). Solid waste agreement (5b1a) — motion: Member Leffler; second: Member Fagan; abstentions: Member Bessler and Chair; result: approved (3–0 with 2 abstentions) (SEG 522–561). Solar escrow agreements (5b1b) — motion: Member Reeves; second: Member Besler; result: approved unanimously (SEG 562–611).
