Felix Township trustee urges county to secure guardrails; county chairman pledges follow-up

During public comment at the March 19 committee meeting, Charles Boyd, a trustee for Felix Township, urged the county to help install guardrails at several township and county road locations after recent fatal and near‑fatal crashes.

Boyd said he had contacted the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and that the agency told him it would cover engineering, materials and installation costs. "They will pay for engineering 100%. They will pay for material, 100%. And they'll pay 100% for installation," Boyd said, adding that his township has a town fund balance and that several local residents have pressed for action.

Boyd described a June crash in which a resident died and a February incident in which a motorist survived after breaking a window and swimming through ice to safety. He asked the committee and the county to use their influence to persuade the road commissioner and township board to accept the IDNRs offer and install guardrails at locations he named, including Coal City Road and White Tie Road.

County Board Chairman Drew Muffler said he had received Boyds materials and planned to call Boyd the next day to work on details. "I'm gonna still do that. And let's me and you work on some details here and see what we can get together," Muffler told Boyd on the record.

Why it matters: Boyd framed the issue as a public safety priority and said the cost would be covered by the IDNR and township funds, but he said he had encountered resistance from the township road commissioner and some township board members. Mufflers pledge to follow up gives the request a clear next step: a county chairman phone call and further coordination between township officials and county staff.

What happens next: Boyd said he would address the county board and continue seeking legal and administrative advice; Chairman Muffler said he would call Boyd the following day to coordinate next steps and review submitted materials.