Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee Meeting - October 28, 2026

The Lake County Public Works and Transportation Committee met on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in a hybrid format via Zoom and in person. Chair Clark presided; Members Castan, Hewitt, Hunter, Roberts, and Wasick, and Vice Chair Maine were present for roll call. No addenda or public comment were offered. All eleven resolutions under new business were approved by voice vote with no opposition.

Discussion Items

• 8.1 – Riverwoods sewage disposal agreement amendment: Director Austin McFarland presented the first amendment to the restated and amended sewage disposal agreement with the Village of Riverwoods. The village plans to annex parcels along Route 21 for commercial development, including a Quick Trip gas station; best management practices (BMPs) reviewed by Planning, Building and Development were incorporated, and sanitary sewer service will be provided by the county. When asked whether BMPs apply regardless of the development type, McFarland stated that the annexation agreement is tied to the specific proposal and that the BMP memo imposes a higher bar for gas-station-related impacts near the Des Plaines River, while general BMPs would already apply under the WDO.

• 8.2 – Round Lake sewage disposal agreement amendment: McFarland presented the first amendment for the Village of Round Lake, transferring county sanitary sewer assets and pipes within village boundaries to the village following the dissolution of the Lakes Region Sanitary District. The application met criteria requiring no negative impact to customers or the county. The amended IGA was approved by the village and reviewed by the state's attorney's office. Members noted the change would give affected residents one village water and sewer bill at no higher rates; the village would assume maintenance, repair, and upkeep responsibilities. McFarland called it a win-win.

• 8.3 – Winston Park Storm Sewer Improvement Project: McFarland recommended a $299,455 contract with Misfitts Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois, for replacement of a storm sewer pipe crossing county property that had collapsed, creating a safety hazard. The repair was unbudgeted but urgent; the company was the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

• 8.4 – FY2027 maintenance materials and services appropriation: Director Shane Schneider requested approval of $335,000 in matching tax funds for annual highway maintenance purchases, including drainage pipes, guardrail, fencing, signs, and specialty equipment rental.

• 8.5 – Native landscape inspection and maintenance: Schneider requested $205,000 in matching tax funds to hire a consultant to inspect native landscape areas, prepare a maintenance plan and bid set, and award a contract in FY2027. He noted efforts to expand native areas and reduce mowing; consultants use forest preserve species lists. Members discussed tree replacement, line-of-sight considerations, and roundabout landscaping as a visual barrier to discourage straight-through driving.

• 8.6 – General engineering and support services appropriation: Schneider requested $475,000 in quarter-percent sales tax transportation funds for FY2027 general engineering support services. He initially described it as concrete patching, then corrected himself and clarified that the funds cover specialized consultant services such as soil testing, wetland delineations, pavement testing, drainage, bridge, and land acquisition work supporting in-house design teams.

• 8.7 – Concrete patching engineering services: Schneider presented an agreement with Horner and Schiffrin Inc. for phase two professional engineering services for concrete patching on various county highways, at a maximum cost of $108,240, with $130,000 in motor fuel tax funds appropriated. This item covers roughly 60 patching locations identified by maintenance crews.

• 8.8 – Russell Road resurfacing design: Schneider presented an $834,661 phase two engineering agreement with GFT Infrastructure Inc., with $1,005,000 in matching tax funds, for resurfacing Russell Road from Kilborne Road to Illinois Route 131 and retaining wall replacement at Russell Road and Willow Hollow Lane. Work includes paved shoulders, rumble strips, culvert analysis, curve superelevation correction, and retaining wall design; construction is targeted for next year.

• 8.9 – Deerfield Road Bridge rehabilitation design: Schneider presented a $595,841 phase two engineering agreement with Parsons Transportation Group Inc., with $715,000 in county option motor fuel tax funds, for rehabilitating the Deerfield Road Bridge over the Middle Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River. The bridge was weight-restricted by IDOT; abutments are sound, so the deck and beams will be replaced. Design is planned for 2027, with bidding in early 2028 and construction in 2028.

• 8.10 – Deerfield Road construction supplemental appropriation: Schneider requested a $21 million supplemental appropriation of quarter-percent sales tax transportation funds for reconstruction of Deerfield Road from Illinois Route 21 to Saunders Road. The low bid was about $64.6 million against an engineer's estimate of just under $51 million. A detailed review concluded the price reflects current market conditions due to constrained working area, two-way traffic maintenance, complex bridge and deep sewer work with groundwater challenges, and Milwaukee Avenue intersection improvements. The county has three federal grants worth about $29 million and is seeking to expand one through CMAP to restore closer to 80% federal funding, plus state participation for Milwaukee Avenue improvements; any additional grants would reimburse the new appropriation. Members supported moving forward, noting the constraints and costs are unlikely to decrease.

• 8.11 – Hainesville Road improvements contract: Schneider presented a $17,836,402.70 contract with Burger Contractors of Quakonda, Illinois, appropriating $2,650,000 in county bridge tax funds and $18,775,000 in quarter-percent sales tax transportation funds. The project widens Hainesville Road from Washington Street to Rollins Road from two lanes to three, adds curb and gutter, storm sewer, a left-turn lane, a bike path on the east side, and a sidewalk on the west side, with future connections to the Millennium Trail system. Construction will begin with utility work and span most of 2027 with some work into 2028.

Key Outcomes

• All eleven resolutions (8.1 through 8.11) were approved unanimously by voice vote.
• The committee voted by roll call to enter executive session for a personnel matter under 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), and later returned to open session.
• Committee members noted the next meeting on November 4, 2026, would be the last of the session; the chair adjourned the meeting.