Transportation Committee - Public Meeting, 10-28-26

The McHenry County Transportation Committee’s public meeting on October 28, 2026, included votes on equipment purchases and service contracts. The committee approved purchases for vegetation-crew trucks, diesel trucks, a zero-turn mower, a road-weather information system lease covering five units, a snow-pusher attachment, and vehicle telematics; the telematics service was described as costing $63,000 annually, and the snow-pusher attachment as $11,150. Members raised questions about truck resale estimates, service-body costs, in-house versus contracted work, and the value of retaining older equipment. The committee also approved a $100,000 living snow-fence program, with about $80,000 anticipated for participating farmers. A $100,000 emergency tree-service item with a single bid passed on a divided vote. A tractor/equipment purchase was postponed pending comparison with a possible township unit, and the five-year transportation program was postponed to November 24 while members considered budget and RTA-funding uncertainties. The committee voted unanimously to reaffirm the county’s 2008 policy directing RTA sales-tax funds toward transportation purposes.

Members discussed a facility capital-needs list that included an estimated $1.2 million replacement of the department’s fuel island and repairs to parking lots; no funding or project award was approved. Transit updates included a recommendation to advance the purchase of land for the Woodstock rail yard, subject to county-board approval, and discussion of seeking expanded Pace service. The committee also scheduled a November 24 variance hearing for a proposed traffic signal on Randall Road at Becky Lynn Lane. Construction staff reported that the Charles Miller Bridge remained on track to reopen December 1 and described upcoming traffic-stage changes on Randall Road.