Grundy County approves $375,000 road maintenance program, hires Chamblin for highway building design and grants two access variances

The Grundy County Board approved a resolution to appropriate $375,000 in motor-fuel-tax funds for the 2026 general maintenance program, covering tar-and-chip, crack fill, HMA paving, shoulder stone and striping, county staff said. Eric Gibson, who presented the item, said the measure received a positive recommendation from the highway committee and was intended to fund bulk maintenance projects coordinated with townships.

Gibson also asked the board to approve a preliminary engineering services agreement with Chamblin & Associates for the design and bidding phases of a highway-department building. Gibson said the professional-services contract is not subject to the same bidding process as construction and estimated the agreement at $70,000; the board approved the contract by voice vote.

On a separate agenda matter, Gibson presented two companion variances to the Grundy County Highway Access Regulation Ordinance for neighboring parcels owned by Danny Bollington and Enrique Martinez. Gibson said East Grand Ridge Road is classified as an access-3 county highway, which requires 1,000-foot spacing between private entrances; because the parcels' layout makes that spacing impossible (one distance described as 592 feet), the highway committee recommended allowing shared access on the adjoining boundary. A board member said the variances align with a move toward consistency with subdivision and access policy and the county’s comprehensive plan. The board approved both variances.

All three items — the maintenance appropriation, the Chamblin preliminary engineering agreement and the two access variances — were approved by the board during the meeting.

Next steps: the maintenance funding will be applied to planned summer projects and the Chamblin contract will advance the design and bidding schedule; any construction will follow the county procurement process.