Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - May 27, 2026
Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - May 27, 2026
The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee met on May 27, 2026, at 8:30 AM. The meeting included approval of multiple construction and engineering contracts, and annual departmental updates from the Division of Transportation and the Department of Public Works. All motions passed unanimously.
Discussion Items
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8.1 Intersection Improvements at Quentin Road & Highland Drive: Authorized a contract with Hometown Electric Inc. for $247,926.20 for an interim traffic signal improvement, funded by $300,000 from the quarter-percent sales tax for transportation. The signal was warranted due to resident concerns from public outreach; ultimate improvement expected in 7–10 years. (Motion by Hunter, second by Hewitt)
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8.2 Resurfacing of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive: Authorized a contract with Peter Baker and Sun Company for $2,243,701.47 for resurfacing from IL-131 to Commonwealth Avenue, with $2,695,000 from matching tax funds. The project includes milling and ADA ramp compliance repairs. (Motion by Kasbin, second by Hewitt)
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8.3 Construction Engineering for MLK Jr. Drive Resurfacing: Authorized an agreement with Sewarba Group Inc. for $286,914 maximum cost for phase three professional services, funded by $345,000 from matching tax funds. Use of consultant due to lack of in-house capacity. (Motion by Hunter, second by Hewitt)
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8.4 Rehabilitation of Buffalo Grove Road: Authorized a contract with Alliance Contractors Inc. for $1,202,427.85 for pavement repairs from IL-83 to Deerfield Parkway, including Wyland Road intersection, funded by $1,445,000 from matching tax funds. Project expected to be completed by fall. (Motion by Hunter, second by Kasbin)
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8.5 Pavement Marking Replacement: Authorized a contract with Precision Pavement Markings Inc. for $934,302 for removal and replacement of markings and markers on various county highways, funded by $1,121,000 from motor fuel tax funds. This annual maintenance extends marking life by 2–3 years through grooving. (Motion by Kasbin, second by Hunter)
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8.6 Engineering for Darrell Road & Roberts Road Intersection: Authorized an agreement with Civil Tech Engineering Inc. for $1,517,304.53 for combined phase one and two engineering services for a roundabout improvement, funded by $1,822,000 from motor fuel tax funds. Public outreach will be included, and non-motorized connections to the Fox River Forest Preserve and regional path are planned. Construction expected in a couple of years. (Motion by Wasick, second by Hunter)
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8.7 Construction Engineering for Dilly's Road Bridge Rehabilitation: Authorized an agreement with Alfred Bench and Company for $214,670 for phase three construction engineering services for the bridge over Mill Creek, funded by $258,000 from matching tax funds. The project replaces the bridge deck; future pedestrian crossing may be a separate bridge. (Motion by Wasick, second by Kasbin)
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8.8 Right-of-Way Acquisition for Cedar Lake Road Realignment: Appropriated $9,600,000 from motor fuel tax funds for right-of-way acquisition for the realignment in Round Lake, including Metro station improvements. The project has a $19 million federal RAISE grant that must be obligated by September 2028. There are 94 impacted parcels, 7 displacements. The village of Round Lake supports the project. The committee discussed quick take authority to avoid losing federal funds. (Motion by Wasick, second by Hunter)
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8.9 Division of Transportation Annual Update: County Engineer Shane Schneider presented the update. Highlights: 55 snow/ice callouts (above 10-year average of 50), biannual bridge inspections of 70 bridges, new equipment purchases (sign trucks, mowers, vector truck, EV vehicles), adoption of Adopt-a-Highway digital program (79% roadway adoption, 71% path adoption), department reorganization cost-neutral with new maintenance crew for storm sewer repairs (80 structures repaired), five open civil engineering positions, completion of Highway Safety Action Plan, 2025 construction program (24 projects, ~$100M), and upcoming 2026 program (30 projects, ~$98M). Awards: Deerfield Road concrete patching innovation (national award), Darrow Road roundabouts (ITE corridor of the year). Upcoming: Deerfield Road Corridor update next week, DOT facility replacement feasibility study. Committee members expressed appreciation for staff's community engagement and innovation.
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8.10 Countryside Manor Water Main Replacement Phase Two: Authorized a contract with Burger Contractors Inc. for $2,226,344.85 for water main replacement to remove H-pipes and reduce main breaks. Funded via department CIP. Public outreach meeting held. (Motion by Kasbin, second by Hunter)
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8.11 Dating Decker Water Main Replacement: Authorized a contract with Morrow Sewer Construction for $2,118,943 for water main replacement in the Wildwood system, including sections under a lake. Received $1 million in community project funding from Congressman Brad Schneider. Project will address aging infrastructure and lined pipe under lake. (Motion by Kasman, second by Hunter)
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8.12 Printing and Mailing of Utility Bills: Authorized a contract with Matrix Imaging Solutions LLC for an estimated annual $144,910 for printing and mailing utility bills for retail water and sewer customers. Electronic billing available; paper option remains popular. (Motion by Hunter, second by Kasbin)
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8.13 Public Works Annual Update: Director Austin McFarland presented the update. Key projects in FY25: White Deer Run water resiliency project (2 million gallon reservoir completed, interconnections with Lincolnshire and Buffalo Grove, well development planned), Gages Lake water tower completed and named by residents, clarifier covers at treatment plants (ARPA-funded) reducing algae, Bakaria water system switched to Lake Michigan water (no lead issues), water main replacements in Wildwood and Countryside Manor (H-pipe removal), Mill Creek UV system replacement (ARPA-funded). FY26 priorities: Antioch sanitary sewer project (design), West Pumping Station upgrade, Countryside Lake water system consolidation (connecting Forest Lake, Althorne Woods/Glenshire with a fifth well and eventual Lake Michigan water by 2028), and West Oak Middle School/Oak Terra consolidation (well and storage, prefab well house, completion by early fall). Intergovernmental agreements with municipalities were finalized. Committee members praised the department's work and use of ARPA funds for long-term infrastructure and sustainability.
Key Outcomes
All resolutions (items 8.1 through 8.12) were approved unanimously by voice vote. The committee received the annual updates from DOT and Public Works with appreciation. The next meeting is scheduled for June 3, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good morning, everyone. Good morning, really, everyone. Um, today is May 27th, 2026, 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 Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Can I get a roll call, please? Member Kasbin? Here. Chair Clark. Here. Member Hewitt. Member Hunter. Here. Vice Chair Maine. Member Roberts is absent. Member Wasick? All right. Do we have any public comments today? We do not. All right. Um don't have any chairs' remarks. No unfinished business. Our new business is our regular agenda. Um, item 8.1 is a joint resolution authorizing a contract with Hometown Electric Inc., Antioch, Illinois, in the amount of 247,926 and 20 cents for the intersection improvements of Quentin Road at Highland Drive in appropriating $300,000 of the quarter percent sales tax for transportation funds. Can I get a motion in a second? Motion by Hunter, second by Hewitt. Good morning. Good morning, Minute Committee member. Shane Schneider, County Engineer and DOT Director. So this improvement is an interim improvement. Um it's an intern traffic interim traffic signal improvement. If we can get the location map, I think backed up one. There we go. So this is on the old McHenry uh grade separation improvement corridor. Um so you can see up at the top of the page there, you have old McHenry Road, and then you've got the Canadian National Railroad that goes through there. Um, and then Quentin Road is part of that uh improvement. Um, one thing that we discovered during the public outreach is that the residents that live back and use Highland Lake Drive as an access out to Quentin Road, had a hard time getting out onto the highway. So we did a traffic signal warrant, and that traffic signal is warranted. Um, but that portion of the roadway improvements won't be completed probably for seven to ten years. Um so doing this interim improvement allows us to install a traffic signal, allows the safety and operational benefits to be put in place until the ultimate improvement comes in about seven to ten years. Any questions? Yeah, this is really I think this is a great example of how public outreach really made you aware of this issue, and then I'm I'm really glad that we're addressing it now instead of waiting seven to ten years for a safety improvement. So I'm I'm really good to see this today when we do this project. Any questions? All right, all in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Motion carries.
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