Today is 20 November 5th, 2025, and I call the Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee to order at 8 30 a.m.

In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda.

This meeting is being recorded through Zoom.

Can you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Can I get a roll call, please?

Yes.

Oh my gosh.

Member Kasman.

Chair Clark.

Here.

Member Hewitt.

Member Hunter.

Member May or Vice Chair Maine.

Present.

Member Roberts.

And Member Wasick.

Thank you.

Is there any agenda to the agenda?

There is not.

Is there any public comment today?

There is not.

All right.

Our first item is our consent agenda, which is item 8.1, which is committee action approving the public works and transportation committee minutes from October 8th, 2025.

Can I get a motion in a second, please?

Motion by Wasick, second by Hunter.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Item 8.2 is a joint resolution authorizing execution of a contract with William T.

Connolly Inc., DBA Connolly Electric Co.

Addison, Illinois, in the amount of 111,000 for an electrical upgrade to the Lake County Public Works Pet Petite Road, Petty Road Lake Road Pump Station.

Can I get a motion in a second, please?

Motion by Robert, second by Hunter.

Good morning, Director McFarland.

Good morning, Chair, committee members.

Um, Austin McFarland, Public Works Director.

Uh the county owns and operates the Petite Lake Pump Station.

Um Pump Station, um like a lift station is designed to move water from low-line areas to an area where it can be pumped by gravity.

And so this station um serves residents in the Lake Villa community as well as some of the unincorporated areas.

The pump um in this at the station needs an electrical upgrade.

And so this contract is designed to provide that upgrade to allow the station to perform more effectively.

So bids were received, and William Connolly was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

And I recommend approval.

All right.

So it's gonna be this electrical upgrade.

Any questions about that?

All right, all in favor, aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

All right, we're gonna actually uh do something, but first let me get item eight point uh eight point three on the floor.

Item 8.3 is a joint resolution authorizing the first amendment to the amended and restated agreement for retail sanitary sewer service between Lake County and the village of Hawthorne Woods.

Can I get a motion?

A second motion by Hewitt, second by Kasman.

And we've um I believe there we are postponing this item.

Chair, I'm sure there's one item or one component of the agreement that staff is still working on with the village of Hawthorne Woods.

So staff would request an uh motion to postpone this item to uh the December 3rd uh PWT meeting at 8 30 a.m.

All right, and is there a second by Roberts?

All right, so we will postpone this until next month just to work out some more details in the agreement.

That's all.

All right, any questions?

All right, all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, item 8.4 is a joint resolution authorizing an agreement with X Vision Inc.

South Jordan, Utah for construction and materials management software and equipment for the Lake County Division of Transportation at a maximum cost of 87,238 dollars and appropriating 105,000 of the quarter percent sales tax for transportation funds.

Can I get a motion a second?

Motion by Kasman, second by Hunter, Director Schneider.

Good morning, committee member Shane Schneider, County Engineer.

Um, so this is a uh a one-year contract extension.

It's the fourth extension.

The original contract allowed for up to five Exavision is the software that we use to manage our construction uh work out in the field and that our resident engineer engineers use to provide progress payments to the contractor as the work is completed.

Um so this is just a one-year renewal uh of that work and happy to answer any questions.

I know we discussed this at the technology committee, so this is how you track everything that's happening for payment.

All right, any questions?

All right, all in favor?

Aye.

Aye, any opposed?

Motion carries.

Item 8.5 is a joint resolution appropriating 144,000 of the quarter percent sales tax for transportation funds for the Lake County Division of Transportation's project tracker system.

Can I get a motion in a second?

Motion by Kasmin, second by Hunter.

So similar to the last uh item, this is what we use to program all of the projects in our five year program.

Uh so every single project that we uh have in the program is put into this software, and it allows us to um track the different funding sources in each of the years of the program for each of the phases of work.

Um it's also a nice benefit that IDOT and CMAP use this software kind of so it kind of streamlines the information sharing we do across projects, especially those are fed those that are federally funded.

Um this is kind of an industry standard software.

We did a little research and uh about fifty 40 states uh use this software, and it manages about 400 billion dollars of transportation projects nationwide.

So it's a very robust software.

It also gives us the benefit to share all this information with the public facing module.

So anyone can go in through our website and view uh all the project and associated funding and schedules.

Yeah, we got a nice talk about this at technology too.

And I think it's so interesting.

So this is how we have all that public facing thing where it's so transparent so our the public can keep track of what's going on.

I always like to know where we are in the the project so that that provides the tracker.

And as you said, this is this allows us to work well like with IDOT and to coordinate with all the agencies.

Correct.

Correct.

All right.

Any questions?

All right, all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Item 8.6 is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with Lorig Construction Company, Des Plains, Illinois, and the amount of $85,483 for the replacement of the pedestrian bridge deck on the Robert McClory bike path over Illinois Route 173 and appropriating 103,000 of county bridge tax funds.

Can I get a motion?

Motion by Robert, second by Hewitt.

So this is an existing uh pedestrian bridge that goes over Illinois Route 173.

There's a location map that's coming up.

Um the bridge deck is made of wood.

It's at the end of its life.

So we're taking that wood uh decking off and replacing it with new uh pre-treated wood, and we'll also be replacing a small percentage of the steel um channels that the wood deck fits into.

So the work we had the same contractor last year, and they knocked it out within about a week.

And so their their pattern in the past was every piece of wood they take out and a given day they put back.

So the path is reopened every day at the completion of their work.

Um it'll be completed over the winter, so traffic volumes will be a little bit lower on the path.

Uh per the contract, it has to be done by end of March.

Um, but we expect it's only going to take a few days.

Wow, that's very well thought out.

Vice Chair.

Thank you.

Um, Shane, um, a couple years ago, you guys did an analysis, I think, of the concrete supports of a number of these.

So is this kind of just the next step?

Obviously, the wood's gonna wear out, but these the concrete abutments and everything are are fine on all these.

And is there sort of a schedule excuse me, a scheduled plan for hey, and next year we'll have another one, you know, as or next year we have four or something like that.

Yes.

So regarding the abutments, and I can't remember off the top of my head for this one, but a lot of them are uh leftover abutments from when the rail line went through.

Um, and still very structurally sound, certainly enough to support a bike path.

Um, and and the weight of those vehicles are much lighter, obviously.

Um, but we do do uh inspections every two to four years on all of our bridge structures.

So we look at those abutments, and um if they need repair, then we replace them as needed.

But we are strategically going through and replacing the bridge decks every year or every other year, we're trying to do a couple of them.

And we also replace all the drainage culverts that go underneath the bike path.

Um stay on top of that.

Member Wasick.

I know we replace material in my own home that you know wood has a very limited lifespan.

And the trend is moving towards you know, plastic.

Is there a huge cost differential between wood and plastic?

So it you know, it doesn't make sense to do plastic now.

I mean, I'm from what I can tell, plastic will last a lot longer, but I know it's more expensive.

So I'm just curious where that's at.

Yeah, we did do that research um within the last couple of years, and the composite wood was about twice as expensive.

Um from the recent meaning plastic.

Yes.

Okay.

Yeah, the composite material that's largely um plastic resins was getting, you know, was costing twice as much, but we weren't seeing significant lifespan um durations.

You know, we're getting about 20 years out of the pre-treated wood, and we weren't seeing a 40-year lifespan from the composite.

Okay.

So we're continuing to go with with this material, it's very easy to handle and um install.

But we do we do look at at those other options.

So the delta wasn't there yet for you.

Not to justify that the the cost increase.

Thank you.

Member Hunter.

Thanks, Chair.

I I'm impressed on the bid tab.

Do you see the difference between I mean 85,000 and 250?

I mean, that's three times.

Holy smokes.

Yeah.

So I'm glad we've got good experience with Lorig.

I I see them doing a lot of work around here.

And uh secondly, on uh just on that on the bridge decking stuff.

I just did my peer with the the composite, and it changes the engineering because the span is five feet, and with two with wood, that's fine.

Plastic, it it tends to dip.

So now you've got to engineer a piece in between.

So the span changes too.

So just FYI.

Yeah, I feel like it's slipperier too.

That could be me.

All right.

Any other questions?

All right, all in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

All right, item 8.7 is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with Path Construction Company Inc., Arlington Heights, Illinois, and the amount of 72,360 for rehabilitation of the bridge deck on Russell Road over the Death Plains River and appropriating 87,000 of county bridge tax funds.

Can I get a motion and second?

Motion by Hewitt, second by Kasmin.

So this is minor maintenance of the Russell Road Bridge over the Displains River.

We're just doing some concrete patching to the bridge deck, and then we're replacing the expansion joints, which is the interface between the road and the bridge that allows it to move uh through the freeze thaw cycle.

The whole objective is to keep water out, um, and salt water in particular during the winter months, so that doesn't get inside the crevices, and then when that expands, it pops the concrete.

So this is just uh a life extension maintenance project.

So it's it's I was reading it.

So it's fixing the concrete, like is the concrete so it's patching to make sure there's no cracks.

Is that what it is?

So that the salt water doesn't get in it.

That's yes.

Uh and the portions that are being um patched are already starting to show wear and cracking and some of the concrete starting to pop out, and there's little divots.

So we want to cut those those pieces out, put in new concrete, and that extends the life of the bridge.

That makes sense.

It's like preventive maintenance.

So if they're fixing this, then we'll stop bigger problems from happening.

Exactly.

Um the work will probably take place in the spring.

There will be a full closure.

Um, but after we um pass the uh the the county board passes the the contract um at the board meeting, then we'll have a pre-construction meeting with the contractor and and get into the schedule of the work.

Do you know how long about just estimate how long is this like a week like project?

It'll be the contract allows for a two-week closure.

Okay.

So that'll be the maximum.

All right.

Any other questions?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Item 8.8 is a joint resolution appropriating 325,000 of matching tax funds to provide for fiscal year 2026 acquisition of materials and services needed to maintain items such as drainage and bridge facilities, pavements, shoulders, guardrails, fencing, signage, and right of way.

Can I get a motion?

A second motion by Hewitt, second by Kasvin.

This is annual uh maintenance materials and services that we do, uh largely led by our our maintenance team, um, our in-house day labor crews.

So these will be the various materials that we acquire over the winter months, and then we'll start installing next year, or for some of these services like guardrail, we may contract with an outside company that specializes in that work, but this sets the funding aside for that.

So it's something you do every year, every kind of like restock.

Correct.

All right, any questions?

All right, all in favor?

Aye, any opposed?

Motion carries.

Item 8.9 is a joint resolution appropriating 185,000 of matching tax funds for contract documents, inspections, and maintenance of native landscaping areas along various county highways.

Can I get a motion and second motion by Hunter, second by Wasick?

So this is also an item we do every year.

So we have various landscape areas along our our highways where we have detention basins or we plant native plantings in the ditches or things like that.

Um so every year we hire a consultant that specializes in the maintenance of these types of vegetation.

They come in, they tell us what needs to be maintained and how it should be maintained.

They put together contract documents, then we put it out to bid.

So we'll be back next year with that bid award, but this uh gets us going on the work.

Do we know how many how much area we have in native plants?

I mean, just a ballpark at all or I we do have that information.

We've got it all mapped out.

Yeah, I'd be happy to share that.

Yeah I'd be happy to share that I I don't recall what it is off the top of my head.

But um it's always good to see and I know it was part of our I know I'm sure you try to like use use them when we can and then it's appropriate correct we do we do try to maximize the use of the native plants.

Okay good member Wasik just for comparison purposes say you know what did it look like 10 years ago so just I think we're all curious how much more areas being uh done with later native landscaping I think that would be very helpful.

Thank you.

Okay.

It'd be nice to because we can use it as an example like when we talk to our municipalities and stuff about showing examples of here's ways you can use native plants and then here's what we you know how to like maintain it and things like that um for like stormwater and for things like that.

So I would it would be nice I think all of us have a little more information on that.

Yep.

All right any other questions are all in favor?

Aye any opposed motion carries item 8.10 is a joint resolution appropriating 4600 of the quarter percent sales tax for transportation funds for fiscal year 2026 general engineering and support services needed to address items such as soil environmental drainage bridge wetland and land acquisition I get a motion second motion by Hewitt second by Kasmin.

This is again one of those annual items that we do every year.

So these services that are listed are what we will acquire throughout the year for various projects to support our in-house design teams so we might have to pay an SMC permit or an army corps permit or have uh an appraisal done on a piece of property to acquire an easement that we're designing in-house so all these um appropriations support that work that we do every yeah right another I guess this is just that time of year for these annual contracts this is getting everything ready for 121 yeah I guess winter gives us the the time to do all this all right any questions all in favor aye any opposed motion carries item 8.11 is director's report.

So just one update just want to let the committee know that we have uh related to envision uh 2050 our long range transportation plan update uh we've completed our survey we've got about 900 responses we had a virtual uh open house that is now concluded so our team is consolidating all that data we'll be back on December 3rd at PWT to report out the findings of of that those two initiatives and then we'll also be starting to frame out some guidelines and policies that we'll be looking for some initial reactions on from committee.

I'm really excited to hear it to see what what you can it sounds like the response was you've got a very good response.

Very good compared to some of the peer counties that have done this over the last year or two we've gotten really good engagement.

That's because we're late county we know what we're doing member wasick this survey be reflected in CMAP's long range plan or will it at all?

So we'll be um kind of working in parallel with them.

They're completing an update to their kind of Northeast Illinois transportation plan at the same time.

So we'll be sharing data back and forth but the two don't necessarily you know directly rely on each other neither requires the approval of the other but I I assume there's going to be um some pretty good alignment along the way.

Well I think the better question is uh will they incorporate um our findings into their report typically they do uh on a you know especially on a project basis where if we support uh several large regional projects that will require federal funding then they'll put those those projects in their long range tip um and then at a policy level CMAP does look at us and and the policies we bring forward um and usually they kind of use that as um a starting point to adopt things for the for the region.

But they're not compelled to do that.

No okay we're all on committees you know right with each other and we share information and we try to bring the best ideas forward.

Okay thanks.

From a process standpoint then you're going to bring back ideas and then we'll have discussions and then you'll take like kind of our input and then bring it back and then kind of just keep working on it'll be an iterative process and you know we're planning to check in at almost every committee meeting next year and just try to shape this document and then wrap it up by the end of next year or early the following years.

It's a great process and it is such an important plan.

So I'm glad uh we're gonna be doing this well.

Vice chair thank you Shane I was wondering if you could address the impact if any of the um transit um public transit funding bill that in um that was passed in Springfield because it does a lot with I mean I think the increase in the quarter percent sales tax that wouldn't impact us we still get it impacts us in terms of what we pay because we're all could be paying higher sales tax but what about you know the there's money for that was on the um the sales tax on motor fuel and that's gonna go in a different direction now from what we were told it was going to go to before so um what about any sense I know it's early days yeah but in terms of matching from the state and other things like that because that's not what the original that's that's not what it was told we were told originally how it the monies were going to be used.

But what about you know, the um there's money for that was on the um the sales tax on motor fuel and that's gonna go in a different direction now from what we were told it was gonna go to before.

So um what about any sense?

I know it's early days yet, but in terms of matching from the state and other things like that, because that's not what the original that's that's not what it was told we were told originally how it the monies were going to be used.

So still, you know, digesting yes 1,000 plus bill on they do it overnight.

I don't see why you can't yeah, so we're fast readers, but we're catching um so what what we know so far is there's no direct impact to dollars received by Lake County.

So we're not aware at this time of any loss of funding to Lake County.

The the bigger unknown is um with with the bill, they um they're reallocating funds from the state's road fund, which is IDOT's um construction account that they use to build projects.

So what we don't know is are there projects that IDOT was pursuing in Lake County that may be either slown down or worse case, you know, canceled as a result of the moving of that one billion dollars out of the road fund annually.

So those are questions.

I'm sure IDOT is still trying to wrap their arms around as well.

Um and then we'll just have to see over the next few months what we learn about that.

But we do have several very large projects as a result of the 2019 rebuild Illinois bill, you know, like 6083 um and things like that that were a hundred plus million dollars.

So will those projects be impacted?

You know, those are questions we need to we need to ask and get answers to.

I guess we will stay tuned a little bit on that.

Okay, and then yeah, related.

Um I just wanted to ask the the chair in terms of the appointment to the because they've changed those boards.

So is there a rollout plan or is again is it too soon to be asking that?

But there's been some big changes, and maybe that's time for another day.

Yeah, maybe because there are certain and and Matt, feel free to jump in, but there's certain qualifications that they're looking for um for certain roles if I'm stating that correctly, right?

Some kind of background in transportation.

But there will be to include it now, yes, correct.

Look into all of that.

Sorry, Matt.

There are qualifications that have now been included in the in the statute for those specific members that we're gonna have to digest and try and find out what the timeline is for the transition to the new boards.

Right.

That was the key part.

So when does it when so our current uh CMAP representative or our current, sorry, she's our representative on CMAP, but we've got like Metra, right, Gary and Pat Carey on our TA, yeah, um, and Linda.

So how do those are they changing the um the dates on any of those?

What does that look like?

Are those?

I'm sorry, but are those then going away?

And then there's just one three into one correct we get one appointment.

That is correct.

All right, yeah, perfect.

Our our member just just to clarify too and add um our member doubles as a I don't think it's called the Metro Board anymore, it won't be, but it ours would be the Metro board.

No, well, no, no, it'd be well, it would be so just like how we do committees here, right?

There's probably a metro committee or whatever, and that same person who's on that metro committee will also serve on the Nita Nita board.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah, a lot of changes uh coming up.

So I but at least I I have to say I was glad to see a bill pass.

I'm glad to see they're gonna be funding, um, funding mass transit.

I think this is such an important thing for our LA County and for our region.

And um, so I guess we'll just have to see what the details come up.

Member Wasick.

Sharon.

Vice Chair's question was was excellent.

And we did ask that yesterday at legislative.

We asked our Springfield lobbyists, you know, what's are we coming out ahead behind?

You know, and they're they said they do an analysis, get through the thousand pages and come back to us, and you'll probably know before we do, Shane.

But uh, we hope to have an answer next month, if not sooner.

Well, we look forward to those updates.

All right.

Oh, can oh, yeah.

I you you might know this.

I see.

So how much do we get in quarter percent sales tax a year?

Rough, right?

Roughly 45 million.

All right.

So that would be then they've added a quarter percent.

So that would be 45 million dollars from Lake.

I just think that 45 million dollars from Lake County going to the public transit.

Correct?

Yeah, no additional funds are going to know that, but I'm saying we're we're getting a quarter percent, they're raising a quarter percent.

So when we think of that, 45 million dollars will be coming from Lake County on that portion alone.

That's absent the change in the sales tax on the motor fuel.

Okay.

Any other questions?

Okay.

So I think we have thank you.

Are you are you all I'm all done?

Okay, thank you.

Like, wait, all right, do we have the county administrators report?

Uh we do not.

All right, we do have executive session, correct?

Yes.

All right, so um, all right.

So we do have executive session, and so can I uh get um we are going to executive session for item 10.1, which is to discuss pending litigation pursuant to five ILCS 120 slash 2 C11.

Can I get a motion a second to go into executive session?

Second by Casbend.

I have a roll call, please.

Member Kasbin.

Ah Chair Clark.

I member Hewitt.

Member Hunter, Vice Chair Main.

I member Roberts, Member Wasick.

All right, let me say.

Yes, my request is to the chair of the committee and the chair of the county.

Uh and uh this has come up before, but if we go into our mailboxes, we have that printout.

I think it's Metra report, and it's just a waste of paper.

Can they not just send us a link and get rid of that?

I think I asked that thing.

Uh when pace sends it, when RTA sends it, we don't, we don't want it.

Yes, don't want it.

Send us a link, stop wasting all those resources.

Yes.

We all are probably agree on that one.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Um, thank you.

So I'll just I think I said some, well, you said something at our meeting uh last time.

So I'll just send an email and also to our representatives and be like to be really clear like, hey, make a note.

We don't want it.

We just want a link.

And maybe they'd be safe here, right?

I think you're I think it's totally right.

And they give us extra time.

I literally thought I thought we already said this in committee.

We did and also maybe in your email, you might want them to be like maybe more thoughtful about everyone they send it to.

Because if they're sending it to all of us, imagine how many people they are.

Maybe that could pay for a new train.

Opt in opt in.

Opt in.

Yeah, exactly.

Actually, may I may I have a question?

So I just noticed Shane was still here.

So Shane, um, several years ago, when I first became chair, I used to sign these stacks of documents, right?

And then I asked the question, why can't we just do like docusign, like I think what the federal government does, because sometimes I I get those.

So um, and now I don't sign them anymore.

So you guys can just use e-signature of the chair for a lot of this stuff now.

They're shopping for you too.

That's perfect.

That we burn upside up.

Yes, so a lot of that paperwork was um driven mainly by IDOT paper burden requirements, and they wanted everything in triple triplet or sometimes six copies of every document signed with wet ink.

And over a period of time, we're able to convince them that we could just move to electronic.

And um yeah, in Chair Hart, you even requested that the other Collar County sign on to a letter that we all jointly sent to the Secretary of Transportation, and then they did change their policy for that.

So that was great.

So we are looking to reduce the paper burden whenever we can.

Good.

I mean, I just hadn't signed it in years, but I never did hear back from IDOT saying, hey, thank you.

Good idea.

Because um, but what was also interesting, so it as you say triplicate or six copies, and then we each had to have them.

But if you think about these, and you might know, so like um the clerk had to sign it, the chair of the county board had to sign it, the head of LC D OT had to sign it, the um municipality, the president of the municipality had to sign it, and their clerk had to sign it.

So it was like, and it took forever for this stack of because you also needed a courier, right?

So anyway, thank you.

Maybe we can make a lot of things.

But maybe we that could be an example of inspiring the transit agencies to decrease paper through these other ways.

Good.

I'll get a letter from letters from the other college.

That's what I'm thinking.

Uh member Hewitt.

Shane, you want to come on back on it?

Yeah.

Um, I have a curiosity question.

I just happened to be out of state this past week, and I was amazed at the railroad crossings and how they're differ so much from state to state.

Can you help me understand how that all happens?

I see I'm used to what we have.

But I was in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

And you go over their railroad tax, you don't even know you're going over them.

They're so well maintained.

What how is explain to me why there's such a difference?

So I'm not exactly sure how it works in the other states, but I know in the state of Illinois, those crossings have oversight by the Illinois Commerce Commission, the ICC.

So even though we might have a state highway or a county highway or a village route that has a railroad crossing, we don't really have the purview to direct the railroad to make improvements to those crossings.

Um if there's a rough crossing, we'll typically notify the railroad as a courtesy, but if we want action taken, we have to work through the ICC.

Um, and they're kind of the enforcement agency that will um work directly with the attorneys at the given railroad to make an improvement happen.

So um that's typically our path.

Um when we seek an improvement or we want to partner with the railroad to make an improvement to uh a county highway.

We work, we start off as a courtesy with the railroad, but then we go directly to the ICC.

So then that's how we deal with it.

Um but if other states are doing things differently, how would you suggest we go about Yeah?

I think that'd be a question we could Wait, I'm going on secondary roads, and I'm not saying just secondary.

Yep.

I mean third, fourth.

I mean, we're really but that's a lot of mining country and uh those roads and ever there's railroad crossings everywhere, and they're just so perfect.

And I've why don't we have these?

Not that it has anything to do with you or our guys, but it's just the thought that if it's done here, why can't it be done elsewhere?

Or what the difference is, or how do we go about tackling that difference?

Yep, good question.

Um, I think we could pose it to the ICC and see what they have to say.

Now, one like kind of nerdy thing I'll point out, the soils sometimes in Wisconsin and Michigan can be you know heavy sand, so they drain very well.

Whereas we have clay soils in Illinois, they hold a lot of water, so we get a lot of expansion in the freeze thaw cycle.

So that's part of the challenge we face in Illinois.

They don't have that further north.

There's a lot of a lot more sand and gravel as you go further north.

So the water drains much better.

Maybe it's all about the soil.

Yeah, so maybe it's part that's part of it.

We can look into it.

I I don't know.

I just know uh I was there in a mining area on Lake Superior and all of that.

The it just I was amazed at their railroad crossings because there are so so many of them.

Yeah.

Good good question.

That's the best I can do right now.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Member Hunter.

Hi, a couple things don't go anywhere.

No, no.

Um the the project, the drainage project on Haynesville Road south of Rollins really looks good.

Is it got it's got to be close to fruition now?

But that's been such a low area for such a long period of time.

And I went by it yesterday and it was pretty impressive.

So you're talking about the between um Rollins and Washington.

Uh yep.

So phase one of the work is done.

We've constructed the detention basin in partnership with the golf course.

Yep.

And so a lot of the drainage improvements are done.

We we have just a handful of parcels left that we're working with the owners on some acquisitions, some easements and things.

And then we'll be coming back to complete the road improvement and then on motorized improvements, hope hopefully next year, but it's all hinging on those final pieces of improvement.

It looks good right now.

And also I noticed on the way here, your trucks are out with plows today doing practice runs.

Correct, dry run.

I I that was that was two, and just on three, if you don't mind, because I have a house in the UP and railroad crossings.

I go through them all the time.

One of the things that they do up there is they stop truck traffic after usually around April 1st until an arbitrary day.

Sometimes it's in the June in the middle of June.

That means no more trucks until that freeze thaw cycle stops.

They will not allow a truck on the road.

Even if you have a subject to be pumped, you're not getting it to your house.

It's just not gonna happen.

So that's one of the things they do to protect, and that is the land of social distancing.

We didn't create that.

So there's not a lot of traffic.

That's true.

Well, I just I was there for the first time and I was just amazed at it.

Well, their roads and how they handle things are so different.

The free slow cycle helps out a lot because they keep the trucks off the road for six to eight weeks.

That is a really that is a very proactive thing to do.

So while that's happening, that would logging industry is huge up there, and those trucks are very heavy.

So if you want a project that's done, if it's not done by the end of fall, you very well are waiting till July 1st to do anything to get a truck to service you.

I don't know if we could do that here, but I could see that is very, very uh I don't know you can get away with that here.

I don't think we can write that here.

Member Roberts.

Thank you.

I just want to say thank you for um well, first of all.

If you guys can put on your calendar, Levin, November 20th is a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Wattsworth Road project.

So thank you, um, staff and Shane for putting that together.

I'm excited.

So I hope you all can come.

I know you'll be there, but I would hope the members would come.

Oh, yeah.

I think everyone come.

Is it?

I think it's at 10.

Yeah, email.

Yeah, yeah.

I think it's at 10.

It's very exciting.

I'm excited.

All right, member Wasick.

Quick last question, Shane.

We'll let you go.

Uh so the intersection of Atkinson 137 and 83.

Uh, there's there's a ton of signals there.

The work is is done, but it it turns out it's it's a surprisingly dark intersection.

I noticed we have like, I think it's uh passage camera on the Atkinson side.

I was wondering if if we could add a high-intensity street light there as well, or I don't know if we have to go through iDot or what the deal is, but I'm requesting that because it's it's it's very dark at night, despite all those signals, and I think we just need some illumination of the intersection in general.

So it's just uh a request to see what what we can do.

Okay, we can bring that up with iDot.

That would be an IDAT request.

Yeah, they have jurisdiction.

And I don't know if that's ours or it's our poll or comment.

I just I know it gets complicated with IDOT, but uh if we could get it light in there, okay.

Well we will bring that up with Ida.

All right, any other wells of questions this morning.

All right, terrific.

Well, good conversation, everyone.

So I declare this meeting adjourned.

Our next meeting is December 3rd, 2025.

Have a good day, everyone.