# Highways, Waterways & Building Committee Meeting 11/12/26

The Kankakee County Board’s Highways, Waterways & Building Committee met November 12, 2026, and approved the presented highway and township pay estimates by roll-call vote. The largest clearly stated item was $665,652.48 for natural-gas pipeline encasement associated with the County Highway 9 widening project; the cost exceeded the initial estimate because the utility had planned work on only one side of the road, although the widening required work on both sides. The county said it challenged the charge through the state but was required to pay it. Other legible payments included $21,255.77 for Penbrook Township equipment rental, $1,550 for county bridge inspections, and $7,745 for bridge engineering, alongside multiple final estimates for Grao/Grasso Construction. The county’s Highway 53 project was discussed as planned work, and the Highway 9 project was expected to be substantially complete by December, weather permitting.

The buildings report placed year-to-date expenses at $1,113,273.28, compared with $1,159,772.36 at the same point last year. Roof replacement at animal control was underway, while roofs at the jail and health department were reported complete; additional roofs are planned for the highway department, annex, and old jail, with timing dependent on contractor scheduling and weather. Phase three of the Jerome Combs building work had begun, and a contractor was preparing a condition report and cost analysis for the alley retaining wall. No new building contract award was reported. The waterways discussion noted that a bridge had been removed from its pier and would be dismantled from the north side of the river.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** November 12, 2026

### Sources
- [Highways, Waterways & Building Committee Meeting 11/12/26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2VEpUKvM2s) - Kankakee County Board