Lake County panel approves Grayslake water-sewer IGA, salt purchase and multiple road projects

The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee on Feb. 25 approved a package of agreements and appropriations covering water and sewer service, ecological restoration, winter road materials and multiple roadway projects.

The committee voted to authorize execution of an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Grayslake that would expand retail county water and sanitary sewer service into additional parcels the village requested. "This is a new, intergovernmental agreement between the village of Grayslake and the county," Public Works Director Austin McFarland said. Members clarified that sewer discharge limits (PE) are locked into the agreement and that water currently falls under the county’s IDNR allocation; the committee was told permits and project review will govern any high-demand uses. Member Hunter cited contract language (page 17) confirming connection charges will apply at the county's standard rates. The motion to execute moved forward and will proceed to Finance & Administration for further action.

The committee approved a contract award to Semper Fi Land Inc. of Yorkville for $97,880 for ecological restoration and native landscape maintenance along county corridors. Transportation Director Shane Schneider said the work covers maintenance on naturalized detention basins and roadway landscaping; the county now manages about 101 acres of naturalized areas, up from roughly 50 acres in 2015. "We have about 101 acres of naturalized areas," Schneider said, and consultants make site visits to recommend maintenance or replacements.

Officials also approved a joint resolution appropriating $2,000,000 of motor fuel tax funds for ice-control salt for the 2026–27 winter season. Schneider said the county's bid estimate requests about 16,000 tons for the contract (the county’s 10-year average is about 13,000 tons and this season used roughly 14,250 tons) and that county storage capacity is approximately 18,000 tons. He described use of rock salt supplemented by liquids such as beet juice to reduce total salt application.

Other approvals included a phase-2 professional engineering agreement with Civiltech Engineering Inc. for Martin Luther King Drive improvements (maximum cost $370,093.78; $445,000 appropriated from motor fuel tax funds) to replace a deteriorating box culvert and resurface the road, and a supplemental $1,000,000 motor fuel tax appropriation for right-of-way and associated costs on Deerfield Road to cover final settlement amounts for property acquisitions (39 parcels remain in that process). The committee also approved an ordinance reducing the speed limit on Wadsworth Road from 45 mph to 35 mph to address crash history and pedestrian activity; staff said they are coordinating flashing-light options with the forest preserve.

All motions on the regular agenda were adopted on voice votes with no recorded opposition; several items will move to Finance & Administration for final execution or further review.