Public Works Committee Minutes 2020 09-15-20Page 1 of 3
APPROVED 10/20/20
UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 6:00pm
Yorkville City Hall, Conference Room
800 Game Farm Road
This meeting was held in accordance with Public Act 101-0640 and Gubernatorial Disaster
Proclamation issued by Governor Pritzker pursuant to the powers vested in the Governor under the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Orders
encourage social distancing by allowing remote attendance at this meeting.
IN ATTENDANCE:
Committee Members
Chairman Joe Plocher , in-person Alderman Chris Funkhouser, in-person
Alderman Ken Koch, in-person Alderman Seaver Tarulis, remote
Other City Officials
City Administrator Bart Olson, in-person Assistant City Administrator Erin Willrett-remote
Director Public Works Eric Dhuse, in-person Engineer Brad Sanderson, EEI, in-person
Alderman Joel Frieders, remote (left 6:28pm)
Other Guests: (all present regarding Cannonball Trail speed)
Patricia Marsh , remote Clay Hamm, remote
Sarah Nydegger, remote Joe Stenger, remote
Max (no last name shown), remote
The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman Joe Plocher.
Citizen Comments:
Alderman Frieders noted that resident Clay Hamm had sent a list of questions regarding the speed on
Cannonball Trail. Chairman Plocher asked to move item #7 to the top of the agenda after the minutes
and all agreed.
Previous Meeting Minutes: July 21, 2020
Chairman Plocher moved and Alderman Koch seconded to approve the minutes as presented. (Roll
call vote was finished following the citizen comments): Tarulis-yes, Koch-yes, Funkhouser-yes,
Plocher-yes. Carried 4-0.
Citizen Comments cont.
Sarah Nydegger wants the speed limit on Cannonball Trail lowered from 45 to 35 mph between the two
curves.
Patricia Marsh lives on Cannonball Trail and has endured numerous power outages after drivers hit the
poles there and people have driven into yards after accidents. She has had trees and mailboxes
damaged due to the accidents. Speed is the problem, though enforcement has been good.
Page 2 of 3
Clay Hamm said he tried to canvass most residents on Cannonball Trail regarding the speed issue.
Almost all residents agreed with the speed problems and wish to see 35 mph instead of 45 mph. He
said some incidents involving speed are not reported and drivers just leave. He asked if there was any
downside to lowering the speed and said there are many children in the area as well as a church. He
recommended a 30-35 speed limit.
New Business:
7. PW 2020-54 Cannonball Trail Curve Speed Limit (out of sequence)
Mr. Olson said an analysis was done from recorded traffic data and a memo is included that details past
discussions. He turned the discussion over to Mr. Sanderson. Engineer Sanderson said he received
information from Police Department speed data from 370 vehicles as well as from Public Works speed
signs on over 100,000 vehicles. From that he calculated a speed estimate with a conclusion that 45mph
is the recommended speed. Improvements that can be made are shoulder strips, widening road, or
rumble strips. He said there are right-of-way issues that would require acquisition to make some the
improvements and moving poles farther back requires ComEd coordination.
Alderman Koch asked if there would be any drawback to lowering the speed to 35mph. Mr. Sanderson
said to lower the speed would not be following accepted guidelines for establishing speed. Alderman
Funkhouser asked if a portion of the road speed can be changed. Mr. Olson said there is no staff
recommendation to change any part of the road and the data does not support a change. It was also
noted that part of the curve is actually in the County jurisdiction. Alderman Frieders noted that rumble
strips do not fare well with snow plows. In the interim, he said permanent flashing signs seem to have
the most impact and suggested asking ComEd to move the pole. The City Attorney will be consulted.
1. PW 2020-48 Water Department Reports for April – August 2020
Mr. Dhuse said August reflects a large increase in water usage due to a very dry month. Alderman
Tarulis said the city needs to be more proactive in enforcing the watering rules since watering is
occurring on the wrong days and outside the allowed hours. The water reports will be moved forward
to City Council on a roll call vote. Tarulis-yes, Koch-yes, Funkhouser-yes, Plocher-yes. Carried 4-0.
2. PW 2020-49 Cedarhurst of Yorkville Bond Release
Chairman Plocher moved to accept the bond release and Alderman Koch seconded. Roll call: Koch-
yes, Funkhouser-yes, Tarulis-yes, Plocher-yes. Carried 4-0.
3. PW 2020-50 2020 Striping Program – Bid Award
Mr. Sanderson said this was budgeted and has Council approval. Three bids were received and were
just slightly above the budget due to timing. He said the striping is badly needed. Some work will be
done on McHugh Rd within the bid award. The committee gave a positive recommendation and it
moves forward to City Council for a vote subject to determining the cost.
4. PW 2020-51 2020 Road to Better Roads Program – Change in Plans and Final Payment
Estimate
This is the request for a final change order in the amount of $82,000. Mr. Sanderson recommended
moving forward. Alderman Koch asked if the $82,000 goes back into the budget. Mr. Olson said it
came from MFT and will remain in the Fund Balance to be used in future years. A committee vote was
taken to move this forward. Funkhouser-yes, Koch-yes, Tarulis-yes, Plocher-yes. Carried 4-0.
Page 3 of 3
5. PW 2020-52 ITEP Applications
Ms. Willrett presented information regarding the ITEP (Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program)
applications. It was last applied for in 2018 and was unsuccessful. Phase 1 engineering is now covered
under these grants. She is requesting feedback on the 4 applications which are:
1. Joint cost-sharing project with the County on Fox Rd. sidewalk, to Rivers Edge to Hoover. The
County supports this project.
2. Vegetation management along Rt. 34.
3. East Hydraulic conversion to one-way streetscape for festivals.
4. Riverwalk extension of trail west under bridge to recreation building.
Mr. Olson said there is no limit on the number of applications. Alderman Koch expressed concern for
spending the money for these projects instead of on Road to Better Roads. Alderman Funkhouser
asked if there were any penalties if the city withdrew from the applications--none are known. He said
he liked the Fox Road multi-use path project. He said he is not as excited about the Rt. 34 project, he
is OK with the Hydraulic project and he said the Riverwalk is expensive but he would like it integrated
with other trails. In his feedback, Alderman Tarulis ranked the projects giving most approval to the
trail on Fox Road, then Rt. 34 project, Riverwalk and Hydraulic. Mr. Olson summarized the
conversation and this item will be taken to City Council for more feedback.
6. PW 2020-53 Proposed Road to Better Roads Program and Rebuild Illinois Program
Mr. Sanderson presented this item. The City wants to take advantage of the bidding during this time of
the year. There are 2 funding sources: Road to Better Roads and extra money from state funding
called Rebuild Illinois. The city's allotment is $1.25 million to be paid out over the next 2 years. He
said the original plan is being followed with a few extra projects added.
Mr. Olson said there are 2 action items: endorsement of next year's plan and general feedback for
future plans. He also asked for feedback on a staff recommendation to use new funds in Fox Hill
which is in poor condition. Greenbriar was also suggested.
Mr. Sanderson added that the Rebuild Funds do have limits on how the money is spent: 1) must be a
transportation project and 2) it must be bondable. He elaborated on more details of these requirements.
The committee members were generally OK with moving this plan forward and signified as follows:
Funkhouser-yes, Koch-yes, Tarulis-yes, Plocher-yes. Carried 4-0.
Old Business: None
Additional Business:
Alderman Funkhouser related some residents' concerns about the Kennedy shared use path at Autumn
Creek and Bristol Ridge. It was stated that pedestrians do not stop at intersection and drivers have
nearly hit pedestrians. He asked staff to look at small stop signs.
There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 7:11pm
Minutes respectfully transcribed by
Marlys Young, Minute Taker, remote