HomeMy WebLinkAboutPacket - 08/24/2020 - Public Works CommitteeThe City of McHenry is dedicated to providing the citizens, businesses and visitors of McHenry with the highest
quality of programs and services in a customer-oriented, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
Public Works Committee
Meeting Agenda
August 24, 2020 – 6:00 PM
In light of the current COVID-19 public health emergency, this meeting will be held remotely
only. The public can observe by connecting online at:
https://cityofmchenry.zoom.us/j/97223131767
The public can also call in to the following number: +13126266799, Meeting ID: 972 2313 1767
1.Call to Order
2.Public Comment: Any person wishing to address the Committee will be asked to identify
themselves for the record and will be asked but are not required to provide their address.
Public Comment may be restricted to three minutes for each individual speaker. Order
and decorum shall be maintained at all public meetings.
3. Motion to approve the January 13, 2020 Public Works Committee Meeting report.
4.Review of request submitted for Honorary Street Sign designation of Bush Terrace in
honor of Mark Amore and if recommended, direction to forward the application to the
full City Council for consideration.
5.Presentation by City staff about general City drainage concerns.
6. Motion to Adjourn
The complete Public Works Committee packet is available for review online via the City website at
www.cityofmchenry.org. For further information, please contact the Office of the Assistant City Clerk at 815-363-
2108.
NOTICE: In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), this and all other Public Works Committee
meetings are located in facilities that are physically accessible to those who have disabilities. If additional
accommodations are needed, please call the Office of the City Administrator at 815-363-2108 at least 72 hours
prior to any meeting so that accommodations can be made.
Public Works Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2020
Page 1
Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2020
Call to Order
Alderman Santi called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Roll Call
Deputy Clerk Johnson called the roll. Roll call: Members present: Alderman Santi, Alderman Glab,
Alderman Mihevc. Others present: Public Works Director Troy Strange, Staff Engineer Greg
Gruen, Street Superintendent Scott Schweda, Deputy Clerk Monte Johnson.
Public Comment
Terry Locke was present and gave his opinion about the street program. He noted that there is a
lot of patching going on, but patching won’t take care of the disease. Some subdivisions are only
getting patched and are not getting resurfaced.
Approve November 11, 2019 Minutes
A motion was made by Alderman Glab and seconded by Alderman Mihevc to approve the
minutes of the November 11, 2019, Public Works Committee meeting. Roll call: Vote: 3-ayes:
Alderman Glab, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Santi. 0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried.
Review of 2020 Motor Fuel Tax road Resurfacing Program, Road Resurfacing Program History,
and Motor Fuel Tax allotment records.
Directory Strange explained that he wanted to get an early start for recommendation for an MFT
only program, get bids out early, and get a contract awarded at the start of the fiscal year so we
will not run against the limitations of the construction season. The roads selected this year is only
a small selection of a five year concept that has previously been put before the committee. It was
explained that the City has been receiving an increase in the MFT funding, and the streets being
proposed for this year’s program would be paid for with those extra MFT funds. Currently MFT is
being used for debt service, salt, and matches for federal aid programs. He is confident in funding
projections that we can go out for bid using only the MFT money for the half million dollar
program.
Large display maps were used to show road program expenditures for the last ten years along
with the five year recommendations. Past funding levels were discussed, and those levels have
been sporadic. Debt service will come off the books in another year, and we have a projection of
between $1 million and $1.2 million of MFT funds that can be used every year. Those funds will
be available without having to pass ordinances, get new funds, or passing new taxes. The goal is
Public Works Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2020
Page 2
to push towards a stable and consistent funding amount that we can get to for maintaining the
road network. This is just the first in a series of steps to get there.
Alderman Santi noted that a line was drawn under Geneva Place for year one. It was explained
that the roads above that line are included in the proposed early bid, and roads below it would
be done if more money was received from the general fund and a later bid was done. It would
take an extra $700,000 to include all roads below the red line for year one. Alderman Glab stated
that if we spend $2 million each year, we will be in the same boat in ten years that we are in now.
More funds will need to come in from other sources just to keep up. Alderman Glab also does
not want to go for bids early. He stated that in his experience we got better prices by getting
bids later in the year. A discussion ensued about the pros and cons of getting bids early or later
in the year.
Alderman Santi sated that even if we got early bids, we would not be required to accept any of
the bids. If we weren’t comfortable with the numbers, we could go at a later time and try to get
a better price. If the bids weren’t favorable, we could even have the possibility of making the
project larger with other streets included for a later bid. The Committee agreed that if bids are
received early, the Public Works Committee should get to review the bids and make a
recommendation prior to them being taken to the entire Council.
Alderman Glab questioned the process for picking certain roads in the five year program. He
stated there was a system that worked years ago, but we have gotten away from it. There are
many roads that have not been touched in years. Kensington needs done with all of the traffic
at the school. Director Strange explained that the five year plan was not a comprehensive list of
all of the bad streets. Alderman Santi stated that the Public Works Committee needs to convince
the entire Council that general funds need to be used for the road program. He also advocated
for Committee members to do a ride along with a member of the Public Works staff to look at
roads and get ideas.
Alderman Glab asked if there were other types of treatments that could be used on the roads to
keep them from falling apart. Oil & chip, micro surfacing, and thin overlays were discussed. One
problem with some treatment options is that they can only be used on roads that are not in bad
condition. It is hard to sell the idea to many people that you are treating a road in decent
condition when poor roads aren’t being resurfaced at all.
A motion was made by Alderman Santi and seconded by Alderman Mihevc to present to full
City Council the 2020 Motor Fuel Tax Resurfacing Program for authorization to publicly bid, and
to allow staff to select a consultant to begin negotiations for a scope of services to include
Phase III Construction Engineering for a 2020 Motor Fuel Tax funded Road Resurfacing
Program. Roll call: Vote: 3-ayes: Alderman Santi, Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Glab. 0-nays, 0-
abstained. Motion carried.
Public Works Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 13, 2020
Page 3
Alderman Santi reiterated that Committee members should schedule a ride along. Alderman Glab
stated that we have done a tremendous amount of patching on some roads, and at some point
the road just needs to be resurfaced. Director Strange offered to schedule ride along meetings
for anybody that wants them.
Terry Locke questioned of it was the age of the road or the condition that gets a street picked for
resurfacing. His street is forty years old and has never been touched, although it has been
maintained fairly well. He suggests putting the entire five year program out for bid all at once.
He also sees the High School building and their nice facility, and they always take a top tax
increase. The City doesn’t increase taxes and there is no money for roads. His opinion is that if
the City made a tax for roads, nobody would complain because they would see that money is
being spent on roads.
Alderman Glab stated that he has had discussions with a State Senator for readjusting the money
that goes to townships with very little to the municipalities. His hope is that this can get changed
in the way money is allocated from the State. Greg Gruen reported that out of 19 cents a gallon
for taxes, the City of McHenry gets 4 cents of that. Alderman Glab also wants to see what
intergovernmental agreements we have with the townships. If the townships go away, the City
could be impacted, and he wants us to be ready to deal with issues so we can be proactive instead
of reactive.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Alderwoman Mihevc and seconded by Alderman Glab to adjourn the
meeting at 7:12 p.m. Roll call: Vote: 3-ayes: Alderman Mihevc, Alderman Glab, Alderman Santi.
0-nays, 0-abstained. Motion carried.
__________________________ ______________________________
Alderman Santi Deputy Clerk Monte Johnson
Department of Public Works
Troy Strange, P.E. Director of Public Works
1415 Industrial Drive
McHenry, Illinois 60050
Phone: (815) 363-2186
Fax: (815) 363-2214
www.cityofmchenry.org
The City of McHenry is dedicated to providing the citizens, businesses and visitors of McHenry with the highest
quality of programs and services in a customer-oriented, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
COMMITTEE AGENDA SUPPLEMENT
DATE: August 24, 2020
TO: Public Works Committee
FROM: Troy Strange, P.E., Director of Public Works
RE: Honorary Street Sign Applications Review
ATT: 1) Honorary Street Sign Policy
2) Honorary Street Sign Applications
_____________________________________________________________________________
At the November 7, 2016 City Council Meeting, City Council approved the attached revised
Honorary Street Sign Policy. As part of the review process the Public Works Committee reviews
the applications and makes a recommendation to the City Council for consideration.
The following Honorary Street Sign Applications (attached) were submitted in June of 2020 for
consideration:
• Bush Terrace in honor of Mark Amore submitted by Mike Bloom and Aimee Oeffling
The Honorary Street Sign program provides citizens of the City of McHenry with an opportunity
to honor people and/or family members who have made significant contributions to the City. To
be considered, the proposed honoree is required to meet the following criteria: historical and or
cultural influence on the City; proof of significant association to the City; clear geographical
relationship of street to the area of interest of the candidate; known to be of good moral
character and clearly defined community or public contribution made by the honoree.
Staff seeks a recommendation from the Public Works Committee for an Honorary Street Sign
designation from the attached application to be presented to the full City Council for
consideration.
Honorary Street Sign Application
Date *
Applicant Name *
Applicant Email *
Applicant Phone #*
Name of Honoree *
Existing Street
Name *
Requested Sign
Location *
Please complete the following criteria that will be used in the evaluation of your request. Attach additional documents if
required. Honoree must be of good moral character.
Historical and/or
Cultural Infulence of
the Honoree on the
City
Provide Proof of
Significant
Association or Family
Ties to the City
Establish Clear
Geographical
Relationship of Street
to eh Area of Interest
of the Applicant
Clrearly Defined
Community or Public
Contribution Made by
the Honoree
Signature *
6/28/2020
Mike bloom
mbloom@local4235.org
847-800-3804
As it would appear on sign, Maximum 20 characters including spaces
Mark Amore
Route 120
(intersection)
Route 120 and route 31 to route 120 and
front street
Criteria for Designation
Mark Amore was part of the Amore family who has long ties to the city of mchenry
and mchenry county. Mark was a firemen for Mchenry fire district for 20 years and
did a lot in the community as well. Mark died April 16, 2020 in an off duty accident
and it would be appropriate if the section of route 120 from 31 to front street where
fire station 1 is was renamed After Mark.
Look up the mchenry township fire district and you can see Mark was there
Honorary Street Sign Application
Date *
Applicant Name *
Applicant Email *
Applicant Phone #*
Name of Honoree *
Existing Street
Name *
Requested Sign
Location *
Please complete the following criteria that will be used in the evaluation of your request. Attach additional documents if
required. Honoree must be of good moral character.
Historical and/or
Cultural Infulence of
the Honoree on the
City
Provide Proof of
Significant
Association or Family
Ties to the City
Establish Clear
Geographical
Relationship of Street
to eh Area of Interest
of the Applicant
Clrearly Defined
Community or Public
Contribution Made by
the Honoree
Signature *
6/18/2020
Aimee Oeffling
aimeeoeffling@sbcglobal.net
8154824565
As it would appear on sign, Maximum 20 characters including spaces
Mark/Wayne Amore Ave
Bush Terrace
(intersection)
Bush Terrace and Reagan Blvd
Criteria for Designation
Mark Amore grew up in the town of McHenry. Mark attended McHenry schools
graduating from McHenry West Campus. Mark continued his education at MCC
earning his Paramedic and Firefighter certifications.
Wayne managed McHenry Savings Bank for many years while also working for the
fire district. Wayne retired from the bank to become Chief of the McHenry Township
Fire Protection District. Mark served the MTFPD for 20 years retiring from the
department as a lieutenant.
Both Wayne and Mark’s family live on Bush Terrace. In honor of Mark’s passing and
his children still growing up on this street I think it would be a great honor for them to
see everyday his name on the street sign outside their front window.
In 2004 Wayne became the first full time Fire Chief for the MTFPD after retiring from
McHenry Savings Bank. Wayne was instrumental in building a 4th station for the
MTFPD built which now stands in Legend Lakes subdivision.
Mark served as a dispatcher for a short time for the city of McHenry.
As well as serving 20 years on the MTFPD as well as working on
Lincolnshire/Riverwoods Fire Dept.
Department of Public Works
Troy Strange, P.E., Director of Public Works
1415 Industrial Drive
McHenry, Illinois 60050
Phone: (815) 363-2186
Fax: (815) 363-2214
www.cityofmchenry.org
The City of McHenry is dedicated to providing the citizens, businesses and visitors of McHenry with the highest
quality of programs and services in a customer-oriented, efficient and fiscally responsible manner.
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
AGENDA SUPPLEMENT
DATE: August 24, 2020
TO: Public Works Committee
FROM: Troy Strange, P.E., Director of Public Works
RE: City Wide Drainage Discussion
ATT: City Wide Drainage, Powerpoint Presentation Slides
Lakeland Park & Anne Street Drainage Location Maps
The City of McHenry has a long history of drainage concerns which vary in size and scope. These
drainage issues can be localized or can encompass entire portions of neighborhoods. Two
locations of specific concern are the Lakeland Park Neighborhood and the blocks surrounding the
intersection of Anne Street and Front Street.
Because of the long-standing desire of the public to address these drainage issues and City
Council’s interest in the topic, staff has called a special Public Works Committee Meeting
dedicated to the topic of drainage.
Staff has prepared a presentation including a number of aerial displays provided for reference in
order to brief the Public Works Committee on the topic of drainage for the following purposes:
• Reevaluate maintenance operations related to drainage
• Define the standard of care with regard to the maintenance of City Drainage Systems
• Establish a planning workflow for drainage projects
• Update Public Works Committee and City Council on current drainage projects and capital
planning efforts
Public Works Director Troy Strange and Staff Engineer Greg Gruen will present to the Public
Works Committee, City Council Members, and members of the Public in attendance.
City of McHenry
Public Works Committee
8/24/2020
CITY WIDE DRAINAGE
MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS & CAPITAL PLANNING
Why Have a Committee Meeting on Drainage?
Many residents are unsatisfied with the
current drainage conditions in a number of
problematic locations in the City.
Typically, City Staff receive and document
approximately 70 drainage complaints per
year.
The last three successive months of May have
all exceeded the previous record rainfall totals
for the month and this has elevated the
awareness of these issues.
Maintenance of Drainage Infrastructure
& Assets
What is the City’s responsibility relative to drainage infrastructure & assets?
◦Drain the City ROW and cause no negative impacts due to City drainage infrastructure of deficiencies
thereof
When should the City dispatch crews to perform maintenance work?
When should the City undertake capital projects related to drainage and what are the limits of
capital expenditures?
◦What level of impact
◦What magnitude of costs
Elements of Municipal Drainage Systems
Closed Drainage Systems (70% of City)
Curb & Gutter
Storm Sewer
Open Drainage Systems (30% of City)
Open Ditches
Driveway Culverts
Elements of Municipal Drainage Systems
Waters of the US
◦Creeks, Lakes, & Rivers
◦Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction
◦Examples: LP Drainage Ditch, Boone Creek
Wetlands
◦Mapped Wetlands with IDNR Classification
◦Can also be considered waters of the US
◦Examples: Wheeler Fen
Elements of Municipal Drainage Systems
Detention Basins
◦Can be either public or private ownership & maintenance
◦Maintenance issues include vegetation overgrowth
◦Typically include overflow spillway and drywell infiltration
◦Maintenance model can either be manicured (mowed grass) or natural vegetation
Private Property
◦Typical issues include:
◦Localized “pocket” flooding
◦Running sump pumps
◦Ditches holding water
◦Maintenance of Detention Basins
◦Neighbor to neighbor runoff
Current Project Planning Process
IN HOUSE PERFORMED PROJECTS
Resident Request is Received
Staff Makes a Determination
Project Execution as Schedule Allows or Staff
Delivers a “NO” ruling to resident
Sometimes staff ruling is a source of anger for
residents and they attempt to circumvent the
ruling through political channels
Example: Crystal Lake Road Ditch Grading,
Summer 2020
CAPITAL PROJECT
Mass amounts of complaints on a common
drainage issue are received by staff or elected
officials
Determination is made to study or perform
engineering or construction project
Reactive decisions to build or study the issue
can be biased by the most affected residents
Example: Lakeland Park Drainage Study 2016,
Home Avenue & Ramble Road Basin Project
Project Planning Workflow
The current challenge is that there is a lack of guidelines for how to prioritize & make decisions on projects
A Planning Workflow is needed in order to prioritize projects
Staff and Elected Officials need to make decisions to defer or move forward on projects based upon:
◦Financial Feasibility
◦Permitting
◦Constructability
◦Schedule
◦Allocation of City Staff Time
Proposed Work Flow
Schedule for Capital Project Planning
Consideration of projects on an annual basis
CIP consideration
(Fall of Each Budget Year)
Budget Inclusion
(Winter of Each Budget Year)
Existing City Programs & Policies
The “LIST”
70 Service Requests/year
377 Service Requests from
2015-2020
Lakeland Park
2016 Lakeland Park Drainage Study
Work Completed to Date
◦Curran/120 Basin Property Acquisition
◦Home/Ramble Property Acquisition &
Preliminary Engineering
◦Central Avenue Storm Sewer
Remaining Challenge of the Core Group of
Homes on Prairie
TRIBUTARY AREA TO MEADOW
DR. CULVERT: 636 ACRES
PROPOSED 30 AC-FT
DETENTION BASIN
PRIMARY PROBLEM
AREA (PRAIRIE AVE)
–28 HOMES
28 STRUCTURES
TO REMAIN IN
10-YR
FLOODPLAIN
PRIMARY BENEFITTED
PROPERTIES
TYPICALLY DO NOT
PERCIEVE A PROBLEM
Anne Street Drainage Area
History of Studies
Added pipe at Edgebrook-Duker in early 2000’s
IDOT Project Scope
Full Solution
◦Elimination of bottleneck at school
◦Impacts
RTE 31
CULVERT AT
ANN STREET
RTE 31 BOX
CULVERT
TRIBUTARY AREA:
1,958 AC
PROPOSED IDOT
STORMWATER
AREA 10 AC-FT
EXISTING OPEN
CHANNEL AT ANN
STREET
EXISTING OPEN
CHANNEL AT GOLF
COURSE
FOX RIVER
OPTION A: CONSTRUCT
OPEN CHANNEL
BETWEEN SCHOOL
AND GOLF COURSE
OPTON B:
CONSTRUCT
LARGE BOX
CULVERT
Detention Basins
Public Basins are maintained “in -house” by
Public Works staff
Operations Include:
◦Sediment removal
◦Maintenance of outfalls
Private Basins
◦Should be maintained by HOA
◦Some HOA’s are no longer functioning and basin
maintenance is falling to the wayside
◦City is receiving requests to take over
maintenance of these basins
◦What is the Direction the City wants to take
regarding these requests?
◦What is the necessary Standard of Maintenance
Care? (manicured or natural)
Channel Maintenance
Easement & Non-Easement
Illinois Drainage Law
City Attorney Recommendation
Ditching & Drainage Maintenance
•Operations Policy Meeting –October 12, 2020
•Policies will set Standard of Care for Public Works maintenance operations
•Focus of City drainage maintenance operations will be to contain all ROW drainage within the
City system and to protect both life and property
Questions?