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Committee approves Rice and Lisbon bridge engineering agreements; members raise solar farm damage and contamination concerns
Summary
The committee approved a $19,900 supplemental agreement for Rice Road Bridge and a $70,000 preliminary engineering agreement for Lisbon Road Bridge, discussed large Gorman Road payments and expressed concern about damaged solar arrays and potential soil contamination.
The Grundy County committee on March 19 approved supplemental and preliminary engineering agreements for two bridge projects and heard updates on Gorman Road and a recent board field trip that highlighted damaged solar installations.
Eric, the highway official, told the committee that a supplemental agreement with Willett Hoffman for the Rice Road Bridge revised the project from a deck replacement with small substructure repairs to a full removal and replacement after state reviewers requested scour protection analysis. "It was gonna be about 85 to 90% of the cost of replacing the bridge itself," Eric said, explaining why the scope was enlarged. The committee approved the $19,900 supplement by voice vote to allow local action before board consideration.
On Lisbon Road Bridge, Eric presented a preliminary engineering services agreement for a remove‑and‑replace deck and a waterproofing system; the contract is $70,000 and is in the highway budget. The committee recommended that agreement to the full board and the motion carried.
Budget and project status: Eric reported the highway claims month was light except for a $171,576 payment for Gorman Road deconstruction tied to the reconstruction project. He said remaining work is weather‑dependent and that ComEd must provide a closeout schedule before final deconstruction work proceeds.
Solar farms and environmental concerns: committee members summarized a recent site tour of local solar projects including Buffalo Solar and Gardner. Members reported wind and hail damage to panels (referencing a storm in the Kankakee area) and debated enforcement and remediation options. A member asked, "How do we ensure that this soil is not contaminated and that we can, if it is, get the solar companies to pay to decontaminate this soil now, rather than in 30 years?" Another member said the issue is likely an environmental agency matter and suggested the Illinois EPA or IDNR may need to be involved; Eric said it is difficult to force remediation after the fact but that the county could consider imposing conditional requirements in special‑use approvals going forward.
What happens next: the Rice Road supplement and Lisbon Road engineering agreement will proceed to the full board for final approval; staff will continue to track Gorman Road closeout work and explore whether land‑use or state agencies can require remediation or testing at damaged solar farm sites.
