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Board approves Benton Square Reconstruction/ADA agreement after 5–3 vote
Summary
Franklin County approved an agreement with IDOT for Benton Square Reconstruction/ADA and appropriated federal match funds; the agreement drew dissent from three board members who warned of disruption and potential problems during construction.
Franklin County commissioners approved an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Benton Square Reconstruction and ADA improvements and later passed a resolution appropriating federal aid match funds for the project.
The agreement divided responsibilities: IDOT will perform the principal reconstruction work while the county will undertake its portion of work within the county-owned parking/striping area. County Engineer Matt Barnett explained the county's role, and Curtis Overton said the county's portion covers the inside strip and parking area. J. Larry Miller objected to moving forward on the agreement, saying, "I'd almost be at notion to say no, because I think this is going to be a fiasco." Curtis Overton added, "It's going to be a mess."
On the roll call for the agreement, commissioners Dave Bartoni, Angela Evans, Curtis Overton, Kevin Weston and Chairman Neil Hargis voted yes; John Gossett, J. Larry Miller and Brad Wilson voted no, yielding a 5–3 outcome. The appropriation resolution for the federal match later passed 7–1, with Miller voting no on the appropriation.
The board entered the agreement as Agreement No. 2026-06 and the appropriation as Resolution No. 2026-52. The county did not adopt any amendments to the agreement at the meeting; board members who opposed the agreement did not propose a substitute plan during debate.
