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Engineering fee cost holding up road project
The renovation of Kennedy Road, expected to be completed next year, still has a lot of concerns before it can become a reality.
At Monday’s city council meeting, Public Works chairman Rod Johnson, reported that he did not get an answer to a request for
how the engineering fees were decided. He said he will again request a determination based on man hour estimates with hourly
rates.
What he received from Martin Engineering was that the design fee would be 7.5% which was stated and fell within the range
typical for a project this size, under $1 million. The construction guidance fee established by the IDOT, is 35% of the design fee.
The city received a $780,000 grant earlier this year for the project which would build a new road from the township garage to
Divernon Road. The first estimate of the total cost, with the addition of Kennedy to 104, was $1.2 million. Engineering fees were
estimated at a little over $100,000.
Johnson told the council that the 7.5 and 35 percent numbers are standard in the industry, and that his recommendation would
be to accept them. Nothing came to a vote.
During the discussion, it was pointed out that several area projects, such as the repaving of the Waverly to Pleasant Plains
blacktops and Old Jacksonville Road on Springfield’s west side had been done at a much lower figure than estimated for the
paving of Kennedy.
The city could use Motor Fuel Tax money if needed but this would detract from future summer repair of the city’s other arterial
streets which MFT money can be used.
Mayor Joe Powell told the Citizen after the meeting that some reduction in cost could be made by not repaving an area of
Kennedy around DICKEY-john because it was redone several years ago.
Basically, the costs cannot be addressed until a plan is completed, possibly with an addition. In other words, the original plan
includes Kennedy from the township garage to Divernon Road, plus an add-on, Kennedy from 104 to Divernon Road.
One thing is certain, the redo will not contain any frills, such as sidewalks, lighting, etc. The road will be widened to 24 feet
with improved storm water drainage. Also to be considered is possibly moving utility poles.
After 20 minutes of discussion, Johnson said he will do more research and also will contact Martin “and get what I originally
asked for.”
In one of its last orders of business, the council voted 6-0 (Berola, Kessler absent) to employ the following: Zachary Rinaberger
as a full-time police officer; Eileen Barrett as a full-time dispatcher and Kevin Wedemeyer as a part-time dispatcher. Jeremy
Angelo will also be added as a part-time police officer upon the completion of PTI.
The zoning problem for a structure at 927 West Jackson, owned by Larry McClelland, continued again without any decision.
The city insists that the addition of a concrete porch is contrary to existing zoning laws while McClelland, who has hired
counsel, says that it is not in non-compliance. He said that he has read the ordinance and cannot find anything to say he is
wrong. Twenty minutes again produced no agreement, McClelland ending the debate saying, “We need a judge.”
Concerning two nuisances, the first was settled when Beth Sheff agreed to pay $250 plus the $25 turn-on fee and $50 deposit
(6-0 vote) to turn on both gas and water. This, after she had complied by replacing gas line for $950. Gas and water were turned
off in September for failure to pay a $750 fine.
The council also declared a nuisance at 109 South Fourth, both the renter and owner invited to Monday’s meeting. Neither
showed. They will both be apprised by letter that if the nuisance is not abated by December 29, a fine of $100 a day will
commence as of December 30.
In one other piece of business, the council agreed (6-0) to allow Mike Hines until March 1 to find the property line pins which
will allow him to move a shed, presently not in compliance.
The renovation of Kennedy Road, expected to be completed next year, still has a lot of concerns before it can become a reality.
At Monday’s city council meeting, Public Works chairman Rod Johnson, reported that he did not get an answer to a request for
how the engineering fees were decided. He said he will again request a determination based on man hour estimates with hourly
rates.
What he received from Martin Engineering was that the design fee would be 7.5% which was stated and fell within the range
typical for a project this size, under $1 million. The construction guidance fee established by the IDOT, is 35% of the design fee.
The city received a $780,000 grant earlier this year for the project which would build a new road from the township garage to
Divernon Road. The first estimate of the total cost, with the addition of Kennedy to 104, was $1.2 million. Engineering fees were
estimated at a little over $100,000.
Johnson told the council that the 7.5 and 35 percent numbers are standard in the industry, and that his recommendation would
be to accept them. Nothing came to a vote.
During the discussion, it was pointed out that several area projects, such as the repaving of the Waverly to Pleasant Plains
blacktops and Old Jacksonville Road on Springfield’s west side had been done at a much lower figure than estimated for the
paving of Kennedy.
The city could use Motor Fuel Tax money if needed but this would detract from future summer repair of the city’s other arterial
streets which MFT money can be used.
Mayor Joe Powell told the Citizen after the meeting that some reduction in cost could be made by not repaving an area of
Kennedy around DICKEY-john because it was redone several years ago.
Basically, the costs cannot be addressed until a plan is completed, possibly with an addition. In other words, the original plan
includes Kennedy from the township garage to Divernon Road, plus an add-on, Kennedy from 104 to Divernon Road.
One thing is certain, the redo will not contain any frills, such as sidewalks, lighting, etc. The road will be widened to 24 feet
with improved storm water drainage. Also to be considered is possibly moving utility poles.
After 20 minutes of discussion, Johnson said he will do more research and also will contact Martin “and get what I originally
asked for.”
In one of its last orders of business, the council voted 6-0 (Berola, Kessler absent) to employ the following: Zachary Rinaberger
as a full-time police officer; Eileen Barrett as a full-time dispatcher and Kevin Wedemeyer as a part-time dispatcher. Jeremy
Angelo will also be added as a part-time police officer upon the completion of PTI.
The zoning problem for a structure at 927 West Jackson, owned by Larry McClelland, continued again without any decision.
The city insists that the addition of a concrete porch is contrary to existing zoning laws while McClelland, who has hired
counsel, says that it is not in non-compliance. He said that he has read the ordinance and cannot find anything to say he is
wrong. Twenty minutes again produced no agreement, McClelland ending the debate saying, “We need a judge.”
Concerning two nuisances, the first was settled when Beth Sheff agreed to pay $250 plus the $25 turn-on fee and $50 deposit
(6-0 vote) to turn on both gas and water. This, after she had complied by replacing gas line for $950. Gas and water were turned
off in September for failure to pay a $750 fine.
The council also declared a nuisance at 109 South Fourth, both the renter and owner invited to Monday’s meeting. Neither
showed. They will both be apprised by letter that if the nuisance is not abated by December 29, a fine of $100 a day will
commence as of December 30.
In one other piece of business, the council agreed (6-0) to allow Mike Hines until March 1 to find the property line pins which
will allow him to move a shed, presently not in compliance.
Issue Date: Dec. 24, 2009
