>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE."

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE MAKING ADDITIONAL DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR ROADS, BRIDGES, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT ROADS AND BRIDGES WITH THREE COUNTY ENGINEERS.

FIRST LET ME INTRODUCE TO YOU AMY McLAREN, SHE IS WITH PEORIA COUNTY, WHERE SHE'S THE COUNTY ENGINEER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> DUANE RATERMANN IS HERE, DUANE IS ALSO THE COUNTY ENGINEER, ALTHOUGH HE'S IN KNOX COUNTY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND JERRY STOKES IS THE COUNTY ENGINEER IN McLAIN COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT DOLLARS, JUST TO BEGIN WITH.

BIG PICTURE, IF WE CAN.

AMY, WHAT WAS YOUR BUDGET BEFORE REBUILD ILLINOIS AND THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, AND HOW HAS IT CHANGED?

>> BEFORE WE HAD THE REBUILD MONEY, WE WERE SITTING ABOUT $12 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE COUNTY HIGHWAY BUDGET.

THAT INCLUDES STAFF, EQUIPMENT, AND ANY PROJECTS THAT WE MIGHT BE DOING.

AFTER THE REBUILD, WE GOT AN ADDITIONAL APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION ALLOTMENT THAT WE HELPED TO USE FOR DIFFERENT, VARIOUS DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

WE NOT NECESSARILY FOR STAFF TIME, BUT FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES, AND CULVERTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> I BETTER UNDERSTAND, $12 MILLION TOTAL BUDGET, YOU MENTIONED THAT'S FORSALARIES, HOW MUCH OF THE 12 MILLION GOES TO MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND BRIDGES?

>> MAINTENANCE, ROADS, BRIDGES, WE'RE SITTING ABOUT $4-5 MILLION AARY, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECTS WE HAVE GOING ON.

>> IS THAT TODAY?

>> THAT IS TODAY.

>> WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY.

>> CORRECT.

>> PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS A LOT LESS.

>> A LOT LESS, YES.

>> DUANE, SIMILAR SITUATION FOR YOU?

>> SIMILAR SITUATION, BUT ON A SMALLER SCALE.

IS WE'RE 6.5 MILLION BUDGET.

1.7 MILLION REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS ARE COMING OUR WAY.

WE'RE ACTUALLY BANKING THAT MONEY RIGHT NOW TO DO A PROJECT IN 2025.

AND -- >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BANKING MONEY AND HOW YOU SPEND IT, ETC., IN A MOMENT.

YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, GEOGRAPHICALLY SPEAKING.

A LOT OF ROADS AND HOW MUCH MONEY TO KEEP THOSE ROADS MAINTAINED?

>> WE HAVE 366 MILES OF COUNTY MILES THAT WE MAINTAIN.

AND SO OUR BUDGET IS AROUND $12 MILLION AS WELL.

THIS YEAR WITH THE REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS, IT WAS AROUND 16 MILLION, AND WE'RE PROBABLY SPENDING AROUND 7.5 MILLION ON CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ROADWAYS.

>> SO A LOT OF NEW DOLLARS COMING INTO THE -- EACH OF YOUR COUNTIES.

BUT HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES THAT REALLY MAKE WHEN YOU CONSIDER COST INCREASES?

>> RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE SEEING THE INCREASE BEING GOBBLED UP BY THE INCREASE IN COST.

FOR SURE.

>> AMY?

>> ABOUT 20% WE'RE SEEING FROM WHAT WE'VE ESTIMATED AT THE PROJECTS IN THE PAST, IT'S ABOUT A 20% INCREASE IN THE PROJECT COSTS.

SO AS DUANE MENTIONED, THE INCREASE IN REVENUE THAT WE'RE SEEING IS BEING TAKEN UP BY THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

>> SO IS THERE A WAY TO MEASURE 20% INCREASE, BUT IS THERE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT ALLOWS YOU TO MAINTAIN MORE ROADS?

>> THERE'S -- WITH THE FEDERAL JOBS ACT, THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL ALLOTMENTS THAT CAME THROUGH OVER THE LAST YEAR.

BUT WITH THAT UP CREASE, THE PRICES HAVE INCREASED ON THESE PROJECTS.

SO WE HAD A PROJECT IN -- ON THE -- THAT WAS 14% MORE THAN WHAT WE HAD ESTIMATED.

SO GRANTED WE GOT A 30% INCREASE, AND -- BUT A LOT OF THAT IS EATEN UP IN THE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

>> LET ME TURN TO DUANE AGAIN.

YOU MENTIONED YOU'RE BANKROLLING MONEY.

YOU CAN DO THIS OVER I THINK A SIX-YEAR PERIOD THAT YOU CAN BUILD UP THAT MONEY?

SPEND IT BY A CERTAIN DATE?

>> REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS HAVE TO BE SPENT BY 2025, AND WE ARE GOING TO BASICALLY KEEP THAT MONEY IN THE BANK, BECAUSE WE NEED TO ACCUMULATE LOCAL FUNDS AS WELL TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST OF THE PROJECT.

1.7 MILLION ISN'T ENOUGH ALONE TO DO THE PROJECT.

SO LOCAL FUNDS, 500,000 A YEAR IS ABOUT WHAT I GET FOR MY LOCAL PROPERTY TAX TO MATCH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS AND THE REBUILD ILLINOIS.

SO IT'S A PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT -- THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROJECTS THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A BUILD-UP FUNDS YEAR FOR US.

>> BUT YOU ARE BANKING THAT MONEY, BUT YOU'RE WATCHING COSTS GO UP, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL STAY UP THAT HIGH, BUT IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE, TRYING -- WE BANKROLLED 1.7 MILLION, WE'RE LOOKING TO ACCUMULATE THE LOCAL MATCHING DOLLARS.

MEANWHILE THE COSTS OF MATERIALS MIGHT NEGATE -- >> ABSOLUTELY.

I GOT A PROJECT I WANT TO DO IN 2023 THAT IF I WAS TO OPEN BIDS ON THAT TODAY, I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO USE MY REBUILD ILLINOIS MONEY THAT I'M PUTTING AWAY FOR A PROJECT IN 2025.

I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO USE IT TO PAY FOR THE INCREASED COST.

AND THEN IT WOULDN'T BE THERE FOR THE ONE IN 2025.

>> REBUILD ILLINOIS AND THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT'S GETTING DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE -- I DON'T MEAN TO BE NEGATIVE, BUT YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE EVEN WITH THIS ADDITIONAL MONEY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

THE REBUILD ILLINOIS, I THINK THE INTENTION WAS THERE TO GET AHEAD ON SOME OF THE DIFFERED MAINTENANCE THAT HAS BEEN PUT OFF FOR THE YEARS.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THAT AND WITH INCREASED COSTS, WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH DONE TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR MOTORISTS, AND THEY HEAR THAT THERE'S ALL THIS MONEY COMING IN, AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MORE ISN'T BEING DONE.

AND IT'S THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS.

>> JERRY, DUANE MENTIONED LOCAL MATCHING DOLLARS.

IS THAT THE 8020 TYPICALLY?

>> YES.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL ALLOTMENTS WE RECEIVE, IT'S USUALLY AN 80/20 SPLIT WHERE -- SO THE COUNTIES HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE 20% ADDITIONAL LOCAL MATCH, SOME OTHER REVENUE SOURCE.

>> MOTOR FUEL TAX, MFT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MOTOR FUEL TAX, JERRY, BECAUSE FOR REBUILD ILLINOIS TO WORK, THEY DOUBLED THE MOTOR FIELD TAX FROM 19 CENTS TO 38 CENTS.

THEN THEY PUT AN ESCALATOR IN THERE THAT EVERY YEAR IT WOULD GO UP BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, DEPENDING ON THE COST OF INFLATION.

THE MOTOR FIELD TAX SHOULD GO UP EVERY JULY 1st.

BUT THIS YEAR IT DIDN'T.

DOES THAT IMPACT YOU?

WE'RE TALKING TWO POINT SOMETHING CENTS ADDITIONAL, BUT THAT WAS FROZEN.

HOW DOES THAT IMPACT YOU?

>> OUR BUDGETS, IT WAS ALREADY SET FOR HOW MUCH ALLOTMENT WE WERE EXPECTING.

SO WE WOULD -- OUR BUDGET STARTS IN JANUARY, AND SO WE'RE NOT ALWAYS SURE WHAT THE INCREASE IS GOING TO BE JULY 1st.

SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE DOPPLER RADAR UNTIL JANUARY 2023, AND THEN IT'S GOING TO KICK BACK IN.

SO OVERALL I DON'T THINK IT WILL HURT US HERE IN 2022, BUT AS LONG AS THEY REINSTATE IT BACK IN 2023.

>> DUANE, AN ISSUE FOR YOU?

YOU'RE BANKROLLING MONEY AND YOU NEED TO MATCH LOCALLY.

ANY -- >> I DON'T THINK THAT TWO CENTS WILL BE SOMETHING WE -- THERE'S ENOUGH FLUCTUATION IN THE FUEL PURCHASES EVERY MONTH THAT IT WOULD REALLY BE HARD TO PREDICT IF THAT'S EVEN GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> AMY, LET ME TURN TO YOU TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE WITH PROJECTS, WHETHER THAT BE A CULVERT OR A BRIDGE OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO DO 80/20 FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL MATCH, AND IF YOU'RE REPLACING A CULVERT, AND YOU SAY, WELL, THE STATE STANDARD IS REPLACE IT AND BUILD IT TO AN EVENT THAT WOULD BE A 20-YEAR FLOOD EVENT, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT CULVERT AND YOU'RE SAYING, THIS CULVERT IS A LOCATION WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN A 20-YEAR FLOOD EVENT.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT RISING TEMPERATURES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE'RE SEEING MORE INTENSE RAINS.

DO YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO BUILD TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE 20-YEAR FLOOD EVENT STANDARD?

>> WE CAN BUILD TO A HIGHER EVENT, HOWEVER THAT ADDITIONAL COST, THAT DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN WHAT THE STANDARD HAS BEEN SET BY EITHER THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND WHAT WE DESIRE, THAT MAY HAVE TO BE BORE BY THE LOCAL CAUSE, THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAX OR LOCAL MORE FUEL TAX.

IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH ADDITIONAL AMENITIES ON THE ROAD, IF THEY'RE NOT PART OF SOME SORT OF SPECIALIZED PEDESTRIAN ACCOMMODATIONS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE BORE ON BY THE LOCAL AGENCY AND THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

>> SO TH BOTTOM LINE IS, WHEN YOU HAVE A DESIGN STANDARD FOR THAT CULVERT, LET'S SAY, WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> WE HAVE -- WELL, AS ENGINEERS WE HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE LONG TERM OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE RESIDENTS.

SO WE GO FOR -- ASSUMING IT'S NOT TOTALLY COST PROHIBITIVE, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT OUR POLICYMAKERS USE THE LARGER CULVERT DESIGN SO WE HAVE LESS FLOODING ISSUES AT A FUTURE DATE.

>> AND THE COST IS BORNE BY -- >> LOCALLY, CORRECT.

>> DO YOU HAVE THE SAME POLICY, JERRY?

>> YES.

WE DON'T RUN INTO QUITE AS MUCH AS WHAT AMY DOES, BUT WE TRY TO LOOK AT A 20-YEAR DESIGN STANDARD.

SOMETIMES ON THE TOWNSHIP SIDE WE MAY LOOK, IF IT'S JUST ANOTHER CULVERT WE MIGHT LOOK AT MORE OF A 10 TO 15-YEAR EVENT, BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE ADDITIONAL COST AT ALL, AND IT MIGHT BE, INSTEAD OF AN 80/20 SPLIT, IT MI MIGHT BE MORE OF A 50/50 SPLIT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWNSHIP, LET'S SAY.

>> DUANE, DO YOU ABIDE BY THE 20-YEAR DESIGN STANDARD, OR DO YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO, WE BETTER TAKE CARE OF THIS PARTICULAR ONE AT A HIGHER STANDARD?

>> THE CULVERTS WE TYPICALLY WOULD REPLACE WITH LOCAL FUNDS FUNDS.

OUR BRIDGE FUNDING IS SO LIMITED THAT IF WE'RE USING FEDERAL DOLLARS WE'RE STRICTLY LOOKING AT BRIDGES AND THEY'RE TYPICALLY A 20-YEAR DESIGN.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY Y RUN INTO ANY ISSUES WHERE THAT WASN'T ADEQUATE OR THE HYDRAUICS SHOWED IT NEEDED TO BE SOMETHING MORE THAN THAT.

SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY RUN INTO THE ISSUES LIKE THEY HAVE.

>> JERRY, YOU MENTIONED TOWNSHIPS.

MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED WITH THIS CONVERSATION, BECAUSE THERE ARE STATE MAINTAINED ROADS, THERE ARE INTERSTATES, THERE ARE MUNICIPALLY MAINTAINED ROADS, COUNTY, TOWNSHIPS.

HOW DOES THAT ALL WORK?

ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR JUST COUNTY ROADS, OR DO YOU WORK WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND WITH TOWNSHIPS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH A PARTICULAR PROJECT?

>> YEAH, WE WORK WITH ALL DIFFERENT ENTITIES IN GOVERNMENT WITH WORK WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON ON CERTAIN PROJECTS, JOINT PROJECTS, WHETHER IT'S UPGRADING A SIGNAL.

SO IN McLAIN COUNTY WE HAVE 30 TOWNSHIPS, SO WE MONITOR THEIR MOTOR FUEL TAX EXPENDITURES, AND WE ADVISE THEM ON CULVERT ISSUES, ROAD ISSUES AND TRY TO HELP THEM OUT WHERE WE CAN.

SO THAT -- A WHOLE OTHER SIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN ITSELF.

>> TALKING ABOUT ON THE VERY LOCAL LEVEL, BEFORE WE TAPED THIS PROGRAM YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT A PROJECT WHERE MAYBE ONLY 100 CARS CROSSED THE BRIDGE IN A GIVEN TIME FRAME.

HOW DO YOU -- THE HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO DRIVE ACROSS THAT BRIDGE SAY, COME ON, I NEED GUARDRAILS PUT UP, HOW DO YOU WEIGH WHICH ONES YOU DO AND WHICH ONES YOU DON'T DO?

>> TYPICALLY I PRIORITIZE BY ADT OR AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC, THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN A 24-HOUR PERIOD.

THAT HUNDRED CARS A DAY IS MOST OF OUR TOWNSHIP ROADS IN KNOX COUNTY ARE PROBABLY IN THAT CATEGORY, MAYBE EVEN LESS.

AND A TOWNSHIP THAT HAS THAT LITTLE OF TRAFFIC, HE'S GOT TO COME UP WITH A LOCAL MATCH FOR A PROJECT AS WELL.

IF HE CAN GENERATE $20,000 A YEAR FOR A PROJECT THAT'S MAYBE GOING TO BE $1.5 MILLION, AND HE'S GOT TO PATENT% OF THAT, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.

>> AMY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GRANT PROCESS.

BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT THESE HUGE DOLLARS COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT, AND IN SOME REGARDS, FOR SOME OF THE MONEY, IT'S A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

SO WHEN WE SAY THERE'S THIS MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE FOR KNOX, McLEAN, PEORIA COUNTY, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT?

>> RIGHT.

SOME IS A DIRECT ALLOTMENT, SOME OF THESE FUNDS.

LIKE SOME OF THE BRIDGE FUNDS, THERE'S AMOUNTS THAT ARE DIRECT ALLOTMENTS TO THE COUNTIES.

BUT A LOT OF THESE, THIS MONEY COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC, A LOT OF THAT IS JUST DISCRETIONARY.

SO IT'S A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS.

SO EACH OF OUR LOCAL AGENCIES, WHETHER BE MUNICIPALITY OR TOWNSHIP, OR COUNTY, WE HAVE TO APPLY.

AND IT'S A LENGTHY AND COMPLEX APPLICATION PROCESS.

AND SOME CASES YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU LIKE A CONSULTANT TYPE OF ORGANIZATION TO HELP YOU JUST GET THE APPLICATION TO BE SENT TO DC.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE MONEY, IT JUST MEANS YOU'RE IN THE POT FOR CONSIDERATION.

AND ONCE YOU'RE -- ONCE YOU'RE IN THERE, YOU'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER AGENCIES WHO MIGHT HAVE GREATER NEED THAN YOU DO, MAYBE MORE TRAFFIC, MORE BUSINESSES, MORE DISPARITIES.

BUT -- SO WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE APPLIED FOR A RURAL GRANT TO GET $20 MILLION FOR THE VILLAGE OF GLASSFORD, IN THAT AREA, AND WE HAD TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO HELP US JUST TO APPLY FOR THAT.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GET IT.

WE JUST PUT OUR BEST EFFORT IN.

THERE'S SO MANY GRANTS NOW THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT EVERY TIME YOU APPLY YOU HAVE TO GET A VERY COMPLEX APPLICATION TOGETHER AND THEN GO AGAINST ALL OUR PEERS ACROSS THE NATION.

SO IT'S A TOUGH POSITION TO BE IN, BECAUSE WE WANT THAT MONEY, WE'VE ASKED FOR THAT MONEY, AND IT'S HERE, BUT IT'S PRETTY HARD TO ACCESS.

>> HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO -- DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT?

>> SURE.

SO FOR THE GLASSFORD GRANT WE APPLIED FOR, IT COSTS US, WE HAD TO HIRE A OFFICIAL TO HELP US SINCE WE DON'T HAVE THE IN-HOUSE STAFFING TO DO THAT, THAT WAS ABOUT $30,000 JUST TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT.

>> THE BENEFIT WOULD BE $20 MILLION.

>> IF WE GET IT, CORRECT.

>> IF YOU GET IT.

>> CORRECT.

>> OTHERWISE IT'S $30,000 -- SO I'LL TURN TO DUANE AND SAY, ARE YOU APPLYING, HAVING HEARD THIS, ARE YOU APPLYING FOR ANY COMPETITIVE GRANTS?

>> I THINK IF YOU DON'T PUT YOUR NAME IN THE HAT, YOU DON'T -- IT'S LIKE IF YOU DON'T PLAY THE LOTTERY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN.

BUT HISTORICALLY OUR ASSOCIATION, OUR COUNTY ENGINEER, ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY ENGINEERS HAVE ALWAYS PUSHED FOR DISTRIBUTION OF EXTRA FUNDING THROUGH A FORMULA AS OPPOSED TO COMPETITIVE.

WE DON'T LIKE TO COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE IN THE END SOMEBODY IS GOING TO WIN, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO LOSE.

>> SO WHY NOT JUST SAY, OKAY, YOU HAVE THIS MANY MILES OF ROADS, YOU GET THIS PERCENT OF THE TOTAL PIE, DON'T WORRY ABOUT APPLYING FOR A GRANT.

>> I'M ALL FOR THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE GOT ONE VOTE.

DO WE HAVE TWO VOTES?

>> OH, YES.

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE.

I'M GOING TO BECOME A POLITICIAN IF I GO THERE AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

>> WE'RE NOT POLITICIANS EITHER.

>> UNDERSTAND.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MAKING A GRANT APPLICATION?

>> WE HAVE LOOKED INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRANTS.

WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT DISCRETIONARY GRANTS OUT THERE, WHETHER IT'S BRIDGES, ROADS, BIKE TRAILS, PLANNING, OUR MPO AREA, METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION IN BLOOMINGTON NORMAL, THEY'RE LOOKING AT -- DOING SOME PLANNING GRANTS.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO IT IN HOUSE, A LOT OF THINGS NEED TO BE DONE AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE WE'RE EVEN CONSIDERED FOR THE GRANTS.

WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT FOR THE FUTURE, WHEN THEY DO COME OUT, BECAUSE I THINK SOME COME OUT YEARLY, SO IT WILL BE SOMETHING AS WE MOVE FORWARD WE'LL LOOK INTO.

>> IF I MAY, VIEWERS MAY WANT TO KNOW SOME EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS THAT WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

LET ME START WITH AMY.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE COUNTY-FUNDED ROADS FOR THE MOST PART.

USING MOTOR FUEL TAX AND THE INVESTMENT ACT, SO WE CAN'T LOOK AT THE McLUGGAGE BRIDGE AND SAY, NICE JOB, AMY.

BUT WHAT PROJECTS CAN YOU LOOK TO AND SAY, BECAUSE OF THESE EVEN WITH THE COST OF MATERIAL RISING, WHAT PROJECTS HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO UNDERTAKE?

>> TWO OF THEM THAT COME TO MIND IS GLEN AVENUE BETWEEN SHERIDAN AND KNOXVILLE, AND THE CITY OF PEORIA, THAT IS A COUNTY ROAD.

THIS IS A JOINT PROJECT WITH THE CITY OF PEORIA.

WE HAVE AGREED MANY YEARS AGO THAT IF THERE'S A COUNTY ROAD WITHIN THE CITY OF PEORIA WE JOINTLY WORK TOGETHER TO UPGRADE IT TO URBAN STANDARDS.

STORM SEWER, CURB AND GUTTER, SIDEWALK, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THEN WE JURISDICTIONALLY TRANSFER IT OVER TO THE CITY.

THAT PROJECT IS MADE POSSIBLE ON THE COUNTY SIDE, WE USE REBUILD FUNDS AS PART OF THAT PROJECT.

THE OTHER ONE IS A BRIDGE PROJECT IN WEST PEORIA ON SORIDS AVENUE.

THE BRIDGE STRUCTURE WAS IN BAD SHAPE, THE ESTIMATE CAME IN HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED, SO WE ENDED UP USING SOME REBUILD PROJECT -- REBUILD FUNDS FOR THAT PROJECT.

THERE WAS ANOTHER BRIDGE, IT WAS A VERY LARGE CULVERT PROJECT NEAR BARTONVILLE THAT WE USED REBUILD FUNDS FOR.

SO IT HAS HELPED.

IT REALLY HAS HELPED US GET THESE PROJECTS SOONER THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE ASKING, WHEN IS SORIDS GOING TO BE OPEN?

>> THIS FALL.

OUR CONTRACT IS WORKING TO GET THAT OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, YOU TALKED ABOUT A JOINT PROJECT ON GLEN WITH THE CITY.

WHY DOES THE COUNTY HAVE ROADS STLIEWZ MAINTAIN WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PEORIA?

>> THIS IS A STATE STATUTE THAT WHEN A MUNICIPALITY AN EXCESS AROUND A COUNTY ROAD, IT REMAINS A COUNTY ROAD.

BUT WHEN A MUNICIPALITY AN EXCESS AROUND A TOWNSHIP ROAD, THE TOWNSHIP ROAD TURNS INTO A CITY STREET.

THAT'S SOMETHING IN THE STATUTES.

>> IN THE NAME OF CONSISTENCY, DUANE, AN EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT YOU WERE ABLE TO UNDERTAKE BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.

>> WE COMPLETED A BRIDGE LAST YEAR, AND IT CAME IN ABOVE THE ESTIMATE.

WE HAD THE REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS IN THE BANK.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO COVER THE EXTRA, EXTRA $500,000.

ABOUT A MILLION DOLLAR JOB, WHICH FOR US IS A BIG JOB.

WE USED $500,000 OF OUR REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS TO PAY FOR THAT.

>> AND JERRY, AN EXAMPLE OR TWO OF PROJECTS IN McLAIN COUNTY?

>> WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PROJECT THAT'S A 5½-MILE TOTAL REINSTRUCTION PROJECT.

IT WAS AN OIL AND SHIP ROAD, SO WE'RE UPGRADING IT TO 80,000 DESIGN, WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE A HOT MIX ROAD.

SO ORIGINALLY BEFORE THE REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS, WE WERE JUST GOING TO GO IN THERE AND RECYCLE THE ROAD AND KIND OF OVERLAY IT.

BUT WITH THE REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS, WE WENT IN AND BOUGHT -- PURCHASED RIGHT OF WAY, WIDENED THE DITCHES OUT, REPLACED ALL THE CULVERTS ON THE ROAD, AND THEN WE'RE PUTTING A WHOLE NEW ROAD BASE AND SURFACE ON THE ROAD.

SO IT'S KIND OF A ROAD THAT'S BUSY WITH AGRICULTURAL TRAFFIC FROM NORTH OF LEXINGTON TO ROUTE 24, AND THERE'S A NEW ELEVATOR THAT WAS JUST BUILT OFF ROUTE 24.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY PROJECT FOR US.

>> MENTIONING THAT, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC, HOW DO YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO -- I'M GOING TO MAINTAIN THIS ROAD AT ITS CURRENT STANDARD, OR LET'S SPEND THE ADDITIONAL MONEY AND UPGRADE THIS ROAD?

WHAT ARE THE FACTORS THAT ENTER INTO THAT DECISION?

>> SO A LOT OF IT IS COST, SO WE'RE USING $4 MILLION OF RVI FUNDS TO -- REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS TO DO THAT.

AND THEN SOME OF IT IS LOCAL DOLLARS AND SOME OF IT IS TRUCK ACCESS ROUTE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE FOR THE PROJECTS.

WE'RE KIND OF COMBINING A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES ON THERE.

SO JUST THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD, AND WHAT WAS GOING TO BE THE BEST OVERALL, THE BENEFIT COST RATIO FOR THAT PARTICULAR ROAD, AND THE RESIDENTS USING THAT ROAD.

>> BECAUSE THE ADDITIONAL, THE GRAIN ELEVATORS AND HIGHER TRAFFIC COUNT?

THE.

>> YEAH.

WE'RE EXPECTING THE TRUCK TRAFFIC TO INCREASE ON THIS ROUTE ONCE IT'S COMPLETE.

>> IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE REMAINING, I'D LIKE TO TURN TO DUANE AND IF WE COULD JUST DO A REAL QUICK, ONCE REBUILD ILLINOIS ENDS, IT'S A SIX-YEAR PROJECT, AND ONCE THE MONEY IS USED UP FOR THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, ARE YOU ABLE TO KEEP PACE WITH MAINTAINING THE ROADS IN KNOX COUNTY?

>> NO.

THAT'S A PRETTY SHORT, QUICK ANSWER.

NO.

>> DO YOU HAVE A SHORT, QUICK ANSWER?

>> NO.

WE'RE NOT ABLE TO.

>> NO.

NOT WITH OUR 366 MILES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ONCE THE REBUILD ILLINOIS FUNDS END.

WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING BACK TO JUST, MAINTAINING, TRYING TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE.

>> PRESERVATION.

PAVEMENT PRESERVATION.

>> DO YOU USE PEOPLE TO REPORT BACK -- I KNOW THE CITY OF PEORIA HAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT COMES IN AND GRADES ROADS.

THAT WAY YOU CAN SAY, I NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ROAD BECAUSE IT'S -- IT IS AT THE END OF ITS LIFE.

>> WE HAD A COMPANY COME IN, 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO AND DID A ROLLING WEIGHT DEFLECTOMETER TEST, WHICH GAVE US DATA.

WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN ON WHICH ROADS WERE POOR, WHICH WERE FAIR, WHICH WERE GOOD.

AND IN THAT TIME WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE POOR.

TO UPGRADE THOSE.

>> WITH THAT, THE CONVERSATION WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE AFTER THE CAMERAS TURN OFF.

WE SAY THANK YOU TO DUANE RATERMANN WHO IS WITH KNOX COUNTY, ALSO TO AMY McLAREN, OF PEORIA COUNTY, AND TO JERRY STOKES, OF McLAIN COUNTY.

ALL OF THEM ARE COUNTY ENGINEERS, WE THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND WE'LL BE BACK NEXT TIME WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF "AT ISSUE."

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ADVANCEMENTS IN MEDICAL CARE.

SOME THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT HELP WITH YOUR HEALTH.

ON THE NEXT "AT ISSUE."

www.LNScaptioning.com y