OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting - Jan 7, 2026

Committee Meetings — Wednesday, January 7, 2026
BodyLake County, Illinois
SessionCommittee Meetings
DateWednesday, January 7, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:22

Transcript — Verbatim
0:12

Today is January 7th, 2026.

0:16

First time, yeah.

0:17

And I call the Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting to order at 8 30 a.m.

0:22

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.

0:28

This meeting is being recorded through Zoom.

0:31

Can you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:34

I pledge to the United States of America.

0:39

And to Republicans stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice.

0:48

Can I get a roll call, please?

0:51

Yes, Member Kasman.

0:53

Member Clark, Chair Clark, I'm sorry.

0:55

Member Hewitt.

0:57

Member Hunter.

0:59

Vice Chair Maine.

1:00

Member Roberts.

1:02

Member Wasick.

1:04

Vice Chairman is absent with prior notice.

1:06

All right.

1:07

Do we don't have any addenda to the agenda?

1:09

Are there any public comments today?

1:11

There's no public comment.

1:12

All right.

1:13

Chairs marks is just happy new year.

1:14

I'm really looking forward to another year of working with you all on our uh public works and transportation issues.

1:20

Um, no unfinished unfinished business is item 7.1, which 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.

1:34

Can I get a motion in a second, please?

1:35

Motion by Robert, second by Hunter.

1:38

Good morning, directors.

1:42

Good morning, Chair and uh and committee members, Austin McFarland, public works director.

1:49

And Eric Wagner, Planning Building and Development Director.

1:56

The Village of Hawthorne Woods desires to enter into an amended and restated agreement for sanitor sewer service.

2:06

The amended IGA will cover the Kemper Ridge properties that the village plans to uh annex um during this process.

2:18

The property itself is scheduled for mixed residential development with approximately 173 units.

2:26

There is a unique aspect to this property in that the Route 53 Greenway corridor goes through a portion of this development.

2:38

The village is very aware of that and uh is very supportive of maintaining discorder and as included preservation language in its annexation agreement.

2:50

In addition, the state state attorney and um and has also included additional language in the agreement to support a preservation of discarder and its eventual transfer to the proper authority once that is developed.

3:07

Um good folks worked on this, and my thanks especially to Director Wagner and to the village and to the state's attorney's office for working to put this agreement together.

3:22

The county does have capacity to provide sanitary source service to this area.

3:28

The village has moved ahead and approved this agreement, and I certainly recommend approval as well.

3:37

Yeah, and this is um I really want to thank you, Director McFarland, um, Director Wagner and the village of Hawthorne Woods and everyone who worked so hard on this uh agreement to ensure that Greenway Corridor, it's gonna be you know very important for the residents of Hawthorne Woods and for all of Lake County to have that there.

3:53

So and I know that is so that is specifically in this agreement, correct?

3:56

And I and I know we've seen it uh on the thing, so it looks and it really is very well thought out and well planned, and I think it'll definitely um be an asset for the force reserve.

4:06

And so for the for the sewer connections, as you said, we have room in our our network to take on these sewer connections.

4:15

More than enough.

4:17

Yeah, and and I believe the village of Hawthorne Woods has already moved forward, or they're moving forward with this already too.

4:23

Like they well, they can't do anything until we certainly have the agreement approved by the board, but certainly they have made a lot of concessions um and also work extensively with the developer to make some concessions, not only to accommodate the corridor, but also to reduce the density in the area.

4:41

So I think all around, I think kudos to the village for making some gigantic steps to accommodate everything that we've asked for.

4:49

Yeah, I I really cannot appreciate that enough because this is something that will be for the rest of Lake County's history.

4:54

It's important that is there.

4:55

Right.

4:55

Is there any other questions?

4:57

Member Hunter.

4:58

Thanks.

5:00

I uh kudos to you guys with the collaborative effort on this.

5:03

This has been a long time coming on.

5:05

So this thing is is almost like the Etchosketch where it's shifted in sand a lot of times to try to accommodate everybody.

5:12

So I'm glad we're at this point.

5:13

So thank you so much.

5:15

Member Wasse.

5:19

Which is one of the attachments.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████████████████████36%
Active Transportation█████████████████████████████29%
Public Works███████████████████████23%
Procedural██████6%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting - January 7, 2026

The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee convened on January 7, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. to address joint resolutions regarding sanitary sewer agreements and contracts for non-motorized infrastructure improvements. The committee unanimously approved agreements with the Village of Hawthorne Woods and the Village of Lake Villa to finalize sewer service terms and asset transfers. Additionally, the committee authorized contracts totaling over $7.2 million for a new bike path along Washington Street and intersection improvements on Deep Lake Road, funded by county option motor fuel tax funds.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 8.1: Consent agenda approved unanimously (Motion by Member Kasbin, Second by Member Hunter).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were received.
  • Members highlighted the importance of community engagement, with Member Kasbin expressing gratitude for residents providing feedback on the Washington Street project, noting that all concerns were incorporated.
  • Member Hunter expressed excitement that county option motor fuel tax funds are being used effectively for safety and connectivity projects.

Discussion Items

  • Joint Resolution: Amended Sewer Agreement with Village of Hawthorne Woods (Item 7.1)

    • Project Context: The Village of Hawthorne Woods seeks an amended agreement for sanitary sewer service covering Kemper Ridge properties (approx. 173 mixed residential units) and annexation processes. The property includes the Route 53 Greenway corridor.
    • Key Provisions: The agreement includes preservation language for the greenway and mandates its eventual transfer to a future greenway authority. The project is designed as a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to lock in features.
    • Speaker Positions:
      • Public Works Director McFarland & Planning Director Wagner: Expressed appreciation for the collaborative effort and confirmed the county has capacity to provide service. Director McFarland stated they are "100%" confident in the integrity of the corridor preservation within the document.
      • Member Wasick: Expressed caution regarding the legal language stating the open space corridor shall be "subdivided as a separate lot," seeking clarification on whether this compromised preservation.
      • County Staff: Clarified that subdividing the lot was intended specifically to separate the corridor from the development area to ensure long-term maintenance and future conveyance, satisfying legal requirements.
    • Outcome: Motion carried by unanimous vote after clarification.

  • Joint Resolution: Sewer Agreement with Village of Lake Villa (Item 8.2)

    • Project Context: Following the dissolution of the Lakes Region Sanitary District, this agreement resolves sanitary sewer system overlaps where neighbors on opposite sides of streets paid different bills. Assets within the Village of Lake Villa's boundary will transfer to the village.
    • Key Criteria: The policy required no negative financial impact on ratepayers and no significant financial impact on the county.
    • Speaker Positions:
      • Member Hunter: Expressed strong relief and support, describing the situation of neighbors paying different bills as a long-standing issue. Noted the assets were acquired from the former Sanitary District at zero cost.
      • Member Wasick: Expressed clarification on the map boundaries, confirming the transfer covers specific subdivisions within Lake Villa's boundary.
      • Member Kasbin: Expressed appreciation for the methodical and thoughtful approach taken over the last year to ensure engineering and ratepayer efficiency.
    • Outcome: Motion carried by unanimous vote.

  • Contract Award: Washington Street Non-Motorized Improvements (Item 8.3)

    • Project Details: Contract with Copenhager Construction Inc. ($4,421,079.17) for a 1.5-mile gap closure on Washington Street (Gurnee/Third Lake). Includes sidewalks and bike paths connecting the Desplains River Trail to Cedar Lake Road/Round Lake. County funds appropriated: $5,305,000.
    • Key Provisions: Villages of Gurnee and Third Lake will own/maintain specific sections. New pedestrian signals with push buttons and ADA-compliant ramps will be installed at US 45 and Washington. Construction targeted for completion by end of October 2026.
    • Speaker Positions:
      • County Engineer Shane Schneider: Presented the project details, noting that all resident concerns from public meetings were incorporated.
      • Member Kasbin: Expressed gratitude for staff sensitivity to neighbor concerns and highlighted the project as "critical" for access to CLC and connectivity to the Millennium Trail.
      • Member Hunter: Emphasized that using motor fuel tax funds demonstrates the committee's priority on non-motorized improvements and safety.
      • Member Wasick: Initially expressed confusion regarding the map showing the path on the north side, but confirmed understanding after staff explained the path transitions from north to south side of the road.
    • Outcome: Motion carried by unanimous vote.

  • Contract Award: Deep Lake Road Intersection Improvements (Item 8.4)

    • Project Details: Contract with Burger Contractors ($2,867,174.87) for a roundabout at Deep Lake Road and Depot Street in Antioch. Includes bike path construction and roadway resurfacing. County funds appropriated: $3,555,000.
    • Key Provisions: The project is Phase 1 of a two-year effort (Phase 2 at North Avenue in 2027). Includes a 100-day summer closure, with a target to reopen before the start of the next school year.
    • Speaker Positions:
      • County Engineer Shane Schneider: Explained the safety improvements and coordination with local schools (Antioch Community School District).
      • Member Kasbin: Expressed support for the roundabout as a significant safety improvement for motorists and non-motorized users, particularly given the adjacent school.
    • Outcome: Motion carried by unanimous vote.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion Carried (Item 7.1): Authorization approved for the first amendment to the amended and restated agreement for retail sanitary sewer service between Lake County and the Village of Hawthorne Woods.
  • Motion Carried (Item 8.2): Authorization approved for the joint resolution executing the first amendment to the restated and amended agreement for sewage disposal between Lake County and the Village of Lake Villa.
  • Motion Carried (Item 8.3): Authorization approved for a contract with Copenhager Construction Inc. ($4,421,079.17) for Washington Street non-motorized improvements, with $5,305,000 appropriated from county option motor fuel tax funds.
  • Motion Carried (Item 8.4): Authorization approved for a contract with Burger Contractors ($2,867,174.87) for Deep Lake Road intersection improvements, with $555,000 appropriated from county option motor fuel tax funds.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for January 28, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Today is January 7th, 2026. First time, yeah. And I call the Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting 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 to the United States of America. And to Republicans stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. Can I get a roll call, please? Yes, Member Kasman. Member Clark, Chair Clark, I'm sorry. Member Hewitt. Member Hunter. Vice Chair Maine. Member Roberts. Member Wasick. Vice Chairman is absent with prior notice. All right. Do we don't have any addenda to the agenda? Are there any public comments today? There's no public comment. All right. Chairs marks is just happy new year. I'm really looking forward to another year of working with you all on our uh public works and transportation issues. Um, no unfinished unfinished business is item 7.1, which 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 in a second, please? Motion by Robert, second by Hunter. Good morning, directors. Good morning, Chair and uh and committee members, Austin McFarland, public works director. And Eric Wagner, Planning Building and Development Director. The Village of Hawthorne Woods desires to enter into an amended and restated agreement for sanitor sewer service. The amended IGA will cover the Kemper Ridge properties that the village plans to uh annex um during this process. The property itself is scheduled for mixed residential development with approximately 173 units. There is a unique aspect to this property in that the Route 53 Greenway corridor goes through a portion of this development. The village is very aware of that and uh is very supportive of maintaining discorder and as included preservation language in its annexation agreement. In addition, the state state attorney and um and has also included additional language in the agreement to support a preservation of discarder and its eventual transfer to the proper authority once that is developed. Um good folks worked on this, and my thanks especially to Director Wagner and to the village and to the state's attorney's office for working to put this agreement together. The county does have capacity to provide sanitary source service to this area. The village has moved ahead and approved this agreement, and I certainly recommend approval as well. Yeah, and this is um I really want to thank you, Director McFarland, um, Director Wagner and the village of Hawthorne Woods and everyone who worked so hard on this uh agreement to ensure that Greenway Corridor, it's gonna be you know very important for the residents of Hawthorne Woods and for all of Lake County to have that there. So and I know that is so that is specifically in this agreement, correct? And I and I know we've seen it uh on the thing, so it looks and it really is very well thought out and well planned, and I think it'll definitely um be an asset for the force reserve. And so for the for the sewer connections, as you said, we have room in our our network to take on these sewer connections. More than enough. Yeah, and and I believe the village of Hawthorne Woods has already moved forward, or they're moving forward with this already too. Like they well, they can't do anything until we certainly have the agreement approved by the board, but certainly they have made a lot of concessions um and also work extensively with the developer to make some concessions, not only to accommodate the corridor, but also to reduce the density in the area. So I think all around, I think kudos to the village for making some gigantic steps to accommodate everything that we've asked for. Yeah, I I really cannot appreciate that enough because this is something that will be for the rest of Lake County's history. It's important that is there. Right.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com