Peoria Standard

Peoria County Infrastructure Committee met Aug. 28.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

MEMBERS PRESENT: Phillip Salzer - Chairman; Gregory Adamson, James Dillon, Kate Pastucha, Barry Robinson

MEMBERS ABSENT: Rachael Parker

OTHERS PRESENT: Scott Sorrel - County Administrator; Shauna Musselman - Assistant County Administrators; Larry Evans - State's Attorney's Office; Brad Harding - County Board Member; Eric Dubrowski - Chief Financial Officer; Julie Ciesla - Asst. Chief Financial Officer; Dan O'Connell - Facilities Director; Amy Benecke McLaren, Jeff Gilles - County Highway; Gretchen Pearsall - Director of Strategic Communications; Doug Gaa - Sheriff's Office; Steve Sonnemaker – County Clerk; Mark Little - Chief Information Officer; Andrew Dwyer - Greater Peoria Mass Transit District

Call to Order

Chairman Salzer called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.

Approval of Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes of July 24, 2017 was made by Mr. Robinson and seconded by Mr. Adamson. The motion carried.

Informational

• Greater Peoria Sanitary District

Mr. Salzer noted the purchase of a TV truck in the amount of $382,000.00, and questioned the purpose and capabilities of the truck. Ms. McLaren advised that the camera is used to check the condition of storm sewers, and noted that the Sanitary District has provided the services of the truck to the Highway Department on several occasions.

• Facilities Master Plan

Mr. O'Connell provided an update on budgeted projects:

• Election Commission Relocation - Asbestos abatement has been completed satisfactorily. The owner has also completed extensive mold abatement and received independent testing indicating that the abatement has been successful. The County has performed its own testing, which returned some contradictory test results. After additional clean-up of the building by the owner, the owner indicated his belief that the abatement has been completed satisfactorily and any additional testing would be at the expense of the County.

Mr. Evans commented that the County's tests have differentiated from the owner's independent testing, and reiterated that the owner has conveyed that abatement has been completed to his satisfaction. Mr. O'Connor clarified that the owner performed additional work after the County's latest air quality test, after which he notified the County that remediation is complete, and any subsequent testing would be at the expense of the County. Mr. Sorrel advised that each air quality test costs approximately $1,000.00.

Ms. Pastucha asked the status of the lease agreement, and Mr. Sorrel advised that the lease agreement has been approved by the County Board and executed, and lease payments are being made via the Election Commission budget. Ms. Pastucha questioned if the lease contained an out clause due to the health conditions. Mr. Evans advised that the lease contains a provision related to the health of occupants, and added that it is the opinion of the State's Attorney's Office that the mold issues would call for a registered letter to be sent to the owner giving him 30 days to remediate the mold. He advised that if the issue was not remedied to the proper standard at the end of the 30-day period, rent payments would be suspended. Mr. Harding asked how much in rent has paid to date. Mr. Sorrel advised that the 12-month cost of rent totals $40,700.00, and to date the County has made eight monthly rent payments, or approximately 2/3 of that cost.

Ms. Pastucha voiced her concern that the issue with the mold may not be a simple cleaning issue but an ongoing mold growth issue, and even with a positive result with re-testing the problem will persist. Mr. Little commented that the area of the building in which the mold is located will be demolished and rebuilt as part of the remodeling effort. He added that the remainder of the building has passed the air quality testing.

Mr. Sorrel advised that a follow-up air quality test and report will be scheduled.

• County Clerk/Recorder of Deeds – Phase 2 renovation has begun.

• Peoria County Jail – Awaiting final corrected lien waivers from Altorfer for the emergency generator. Staff continues to work with the Sheriff’s office on the timing of pursuing new jail locks and replacement of the rolling gates. Portions of ring road at the jail need repair, which may delay the replacement of both jail locks and the rolling/locking gates at the jail. Captain Gaa commented that repair to areas of the ring road have become a priority, and after bids are received on the repairs, the cost will be evaluated against the two capital items (locks and gates) that have funding.

• Veterans Memorial – Construction began on the memorial earlier in the month

• PCAPS – Bids for renovation of kennels have been received and a recommendation for bid award was approved by the Public Safety and Justice Committee.

Rural Peoria County Transportation System

Mr. Dwyer advised that CountyLink provided nearly 2,000 rides in the past month. He stated that radios are scheduled to be installed this week, enabling every driver to communicate form any location within the county. He advised that an RFP for county services has gone out, with a deadline of September 29, 2017. Mr. Sorrel commented that the contract, when awarded, will be of a 3-year duration, and language will be included allowing the transfer of the contract to CityLink or GPSD effective July 1, 2018. He also advised that IDOT will be notified that grants will be transferred to the GPSD/CityLink beginning July 1, 2018. He stated that the County and GPSD are working in coordination to ensure an effective and timely transition.

Mr. Dwyer assured that there would be no interruption to the level of service passengers receive, either during or after the transition. He also noted that options are being considered regarding coordinated dispatch efforts, including expansion of service and expansion of dispatch hours. He added the GPSD will be discussing a wide variety of options with the county for the short term and instituting those changes in the long term in order to better provide service to customers in rural and urbanized areas within the regular fixed route service area.

Peoria County Veterans Memorial Update

Mr. Sonnemaker advised that wording for inclusion on the memorial’s granite panels has been finalized and is currently being engraved, with delivery anticipated within the next several weeks. He stated that a total of 236 Peoria County veterans will be inscribed on the memorial.

Mr. Sonnemaker advised that $233,000.00 to date has been committed to the memorial itself, with an additional $65,000.00 for the Korean War statue to be created by Preston Jackson. He stated that the approximately $60,000.00 in remaining funding would be utilized for the cost of moving the Vietnam Soldier statue from Wildlife Prairie Park to the courthouse, in addition to any potential change orders. He noted that additional funding would be necessary for the completion of a third statue. He stated that the anticipated dedication of the memorial will be Memorial Day 2018.

Mr. Sonnemaker advised that donor bricks are still available, $150.00 for a 4”x8” paver and $500.00 for a 12”x12” paver.

 Resolutions

• Appropriation of County Motor Fuel Tax Funds for Forrest Hill/Gale Avenue Project

A motion to approve was made by Mr. Adamson and seconded by Mr. Dillon. Mr. Gilles that a recent IDOT Motor Fuel Tax compliance review found that a process in which the City and County applied $350,000.00 in funding between two joint City/County projects nearly ten years ago, did not follow proper Motor Fuel Tax accounting procedures. He stated that $13,614.40 remains appropriated for the Forrest Hill/Gale Avenue intersection project, and a $336,385.60 appropriation in County Motor Fuel Tax funds is necessary in order to put the County into compliance. The motion carried.

• Reappointment of County Engineer

A motion to approve was made by Mr. Robinson and seconded by Mr. Adamson. Mr. Sorrel advised County Superintendent of Highways is appointed to a 6-year term by Illinois statute. He stated that the current term of the current County Highway Engineer expires in November 2016, and reappointment is a multi-step process. He advised that pursuant to the statute, the County Board must initially request and receive the consent of the Department of Transportation before reappointment of either the incumbent or another qualified individual. He stated that it is staff’s recommendation to seek the consent of the Department of Transportation to reappointment Ms. McLaren as Superintendent of Highways for Peoria County. The motion carried.

Miscellaneous

Mr. Salzer asked the status of a developer’s request for a detention basin on a right-of-way on Kickapoo Creek Road. Ms. McLaren advised that it was initially believed that the detention basin would be on a right-of-way, but after review it was determined that was not the case, and is off the right-of-way. She stated that completion of the road to the development is anticipated later in the year, with potential housing construction beginning in 2018.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Salzer at 3:50 p.m.

http://www.peoriacounty.org/download?path=%2Fcountyboard%2FCommittee_Agenda_and_Minutes%2F2017%2FSeptember%2F25+-+Infrastructure%2FInfrastructure+Committee+Agenda+9-25-17.pdf