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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works Committee Minutes 2026 05-19-26APPROVED 6/16/26 Page 1 of 3 UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 6:00pm Yorkville City Hall, East Conference Room #337 651 Prairie Pointe Drive, Yorkville, IL IN ATTENDANCE: Committee Members Chairman Craig Soling Alderman Joe Plocher Alderman Rusty Corneils Alderman Dan Transier via Zoom Other City Officials Assistant City Administrator Erin Willrett Assistant Director Public Works John Sleezer Public Works Director Eric Dhuse Administrative Intern John Burner Engineer Brad Sanderson, EEI Other Guests: None The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm by Chairman Craig Soling. Citizen Comments: None Previous Meeting Minutes: April 21, 2026 The minutes were approved as presented. New Business: 1. PW 2026-45 2025 Water Main Replacement – Change Order No. 3 Mr. Sanderson stated this is a no cost change order, just a change in the completion date. The paving and restoration will be done soon. Since it is funded through the IEPA which has certain rules, there are some reimbursements that may not be paid unless the paver stays on target with the completion date. Contractually, that date is when the project is 100% done. He wants to insure all the remaining items are eligible and reimbursable according to IEPA, thus the need for the Change Order. This will move to the consent agenda. 2. PW 2026-46 2027 Water Main Replacement – Design Engineering Agreement Director Dhuse said this is the typical water main engineering agreement and it's for Game Farm Road around the Beecher Center. There are old cast iron mains to be replaced as part of the Lake Michigan project. The cost is $161,000 and $155,000 is budgeted. He feels confident the shortfall can be found and it is work that will not be done until next spring. This moves to the consent agenda with committee approval. 3. PW 2026-47 Wildwood Water Main – Design Engineering Agreement This agreement is to begin replacing water main in Wildwood which was never properly looped due to anticipation of a future project there. Staff will tie Wildwood #1 into the new Rt. 126 water main and then loop Wildwood #2 into Wildwood #1 to prevent drastic pressure swings when they replace the main. Mr. Dhuse gave an example of a recent fire in that area when valves needed to be opened slowly to equalize the pressure. The agreement is $129,000 and $145,000 is budgeted which would help with the above project in item #2. This moves to the consent agenda. Page 2 of 3 4. PW 2026-48 Game Farm Road Resurfacing – Design Engineering Agreement Mr. Dhuse said a grant was applied for in 2024 and the funds will come from IDOT local funding grants. It is for $850,000 and covers the cost of the agreement and resurfacing. This moves to the consent agenda. 5. PW 2026-49 Kennedy Road and Freedom Place Intersection Improvements Engineer Sanderson gave a slide presentation to explain this proposed project that has been ongoing for a couple years. He wanted to present this to the Public Works committee to discuss some of the alternatives for the improvements. He said the city has not been able to acquire the property necessary for the project and turn lanes are needed for safer entry into the Grande Reserve development and the school. The project is funded through a Grande Reserve Annexation Agreement. There is high traffic of 5,000 cars per day on Kennedy Rd. now and estimated to be about 7,000 in 2050. The project was designed 3 years ago and bids were taken in 2024 with a cost of $570,000. The property owner inquired about annexation into the city, however, no agreement was made. The city is trying to acquire right-of- way on the west side of the road. this is “prescriptive right-of-way” which means the traveled path of the road plus any drainage associated with it. A temporary easement is needed for grading. A clear zone is needed based on traffic volumes, speed limits, etc. and a certain amount of land off the roadway needs to be cleared of impediments, in this case the oak trees. Mr. Sanderson listed the 5 alternatives: 1. Remove 13 trees and replant trees elsewhere to replace. (Staff supports this option). 2. Ignore clear zone requirement, use original design and remove 5 trees. 3. Fully shift road to the east requiring full reconstruction at added cost. Retain 8 trees, remove 5 and add a guardrail. This option adds to the cost and risk if motorist strikes the guardrail. 4. Adhere to clear zone, full reconstruction, shift road to east, remove 8 trees, adds to cost. 5. Full reconstruction, retain trees. Adds to cost. In March, an arborist was consulted about the trees and provided a general assessment. Evaluating individual trees would cost $22,000-$30,000 for the 13 trees. They are too large to be relocated, have inter-connected root systems and the arborist found that 13 trees show signs of decay. Discussion: Mr. Sleezer asked if the city meets the speed limits in the clear zone with the existing trees. Mr. Sanderson said the city does not. Mr. Sanderson said staff is seeking direction from the committee and they continue to engage with the property owner. He said construction is not anticipated this year. Currently, $825,000 is budgeted in this FY, however, he does not anticipate the right-of-year will be acquired this year. The project is funded through the Grande Reserve Escrow balance which has about $2 million and some of that is already earmarked for other projects. Some STP federal funds will be used to address the dangerous curves on Kennedy. In addition, it is expected that Kennedy Rd. will be widened between Bristol Ridge Rd. and Emerald. It was also noted that $2,000 (a 2003 figure) per home in Grande Reserve is dedicated to roadwork and there are homes not yet built. Alderman Transier asked about the acquisition progress particularly with Blackberry Oaks It was noted no progress has been made for the Kennedy/Freedom Place project. He asked if the project might be postponed anyway due to eminent domain litigation. Alderman Corneils asked if there is a timetable for the trees lifespan. Mr. Dhuse said they are not the healthiest trees, but they could last several years. He also noted that large trees such as these can take 8 years to die. Since Kennedy and Freedom Place could be signalized in roughly 10-15 years, Alderman Corneils also inquired if additional trees would need to be removed. The answer was yes. Mr. Corneils said his constituents do not approve of the tree removal idea and he also received a call from an Autumn Creek citizen who asked that the trees be preserved. He said it was the topic of discussion at a Grande Reserve HOA meeting. Mr. Sanderson asked if a detailed report of each tree would help in the decision. Committee members said it might not help as no definite lifespan could be provided for each tree. Page 3 of 3 Chairman Soling said he gave thought to the guardrail and said he is not in favor of this. Alderman Transier said he favored option #1 since the city could get sued if they do not follow the recommendations and if they are not in compliance with the clear zone. Alderman Soling agreed. Alderman Plocher suggested and committee members concurred that the presentation should be brought forward to the full City Council for additional discussion Old Business: None Additional Business: Chairman Soling said there was a discussion regarding lawn mowing and grass ordinance that was scheduled for the Administration Committee, but had been moved to Public Works. He has taken calls about the long grass at Walgreens and Ground Effects. Ground Effects is being dismantled after having been sold. Mr. Dhuse will ascertain if there are any liens on this property. The committee suggested amending the ordinance to increase fines. It was noted the Adjudication Officer can increase fines and Alderman Plocher said a repeat offender should have higher fines. Alderman Transier said the Adjudication Officer could order that mowing be done in order to bring them into compliance. They also can be fined daily, said Ms. Willrett. Chairman Soling said this should be added to the next month's agenda and keep it in committee at this time to revisit the ordinance There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 6:36pm. Minutes respectfully transcribed by Marlys Young, Minute Taker