Board approves bridge repair throughout county
By Kendra Hennis
The monthly Douglas County Board meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. on February 17 with all members present.
During discussion of the consent agenda, the board approved 21-R-6, the approval of the renewal of County Aid Township Bridge (CATB) petitions for fiscal year 2021. These petitions include:
* The relining and repair of the bridge on the southeast quarter of section 35, township 14 north in Arcola township;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches at the bridge at 1465 over Scattering Fork in Bowdre Road Township;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches at the bridge at 825 N County Road 250 East, Garrett Road District;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches at the bridge at 2300 E County Road 800 N, Newman Road District;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches at the bridge at 2820 E County Road 1150 N, Newman Road District;
* Removal of existing damaged/under capacity CMP culvert and constriction of 8×2 concrete culverts of adequate of adequate hydraulic repair, road repair, and items of related construction of the bridge on the southwest corner, northwest quarter, southwest quarter section 4, township 16, in Murdock Road District;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches and other items of related construction on on the bridge at 1470 East County Road 100 North in Bowdre Road District;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches and other items of related construction of the bridge at 1325 E County Road 600 North in Arcola Road District;
* Removal of existing structure and construction of a new structure with adequate hydraulic capacity and construction of roadway approaches and other items of related construction of the bridge at 220 North County Road 575 East in Bourbon Road District;
* The replacement of failed existing non-NBIS bridge structure with concrete box culverts of adequate hydraulic capacity, construction of a bituminous roadway surface, and other items of related work of the bridge on the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 16, township 16 in Arcola Road District.
The petitions requested $447,170 in aid toward the townships and municipalities in Douglas County that will be applied by the county bridge fund.
The board also approved the renewal of the agreement between the county and road commissioners for the maintenance of county roads by the Township Road Commissioners at the contract price of $1,300.00 per mile for a term of one year commencing on April 1, 2021.
Following, Douglas County Board Chairman Don Munson reminded those interested that Douglas County Board Committee and Subcommittee reports are available on the Douglas County website. Also during this time, board member Ed Luth said that he would like a way to include more community members in the subcommittee meetings, with the possibility of one person from each town as a representative. Luth also said that the Coroner Subcommittee meetings had been moved to the second Tuesday of the month, as it worked better for scheduling. They ended the section with board members thanking Douglas County Health Department Administrator Amanda Minor for their success with the vaccine clinics thus far.
This led to Minor begin her report of the Douglas County Health Department. She said that the state of Illinois is holding second doses of the COVID vaccine back, and therefore there would be no first doses or vaccine clinics for the week of February 15. She then said that the second dose of the COVID vaccine would be given at Arcola and ALAH schools this week. Minor also noted that the link for the next vaccine clinic would be available on the Douglas County Health Department website on Friday for next Thursday’s clinic.
Minor said that vaccines still needed to be given at Tuscola and Villa Grove schools and they have stuff numbers ready when those vaccines are available to them. She said that they were beginning vaccine distribution at select CVS and Walgreens pharmacies, which would be helpful in getting them administered to more people. Minor noted that currently Douglas County only has the Moderna vaccine due to to strict freezing regulations with the Pfizer vaccine, but hopes that Douglas County could consider the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine if it gets approved. Minor additionally noted that Douglas County residents who would in Champaign may be eligible to recieve their vaccine in Champaign County. She ended by saying that knows the importance of getting vaccines to all those who want them, but it will take some time for that to happen. Please be kind to those trying to help.
The board also:
* Approved the January 20, 2021 regular board minutes.
* Approved the payments of the county’s financial obligations.
* Approved the reports of fees of county offices.
* Appointed Tyler Harvey to the 911 Board.
* Approved the Douglas County Coroner’s Timesheets.
* Approved payment of Rapiscan Purchase for the courthouse security area in the amount of $28,102.
* Adjourned at 9:42 a.m. until the March 17 meeting at 9 a.m.