Belvidere works with other cities to save money on projects

By Bob Balgemann

REPORTER

There are times and places during the winter when motorists sometimes don’t know what part of the road they’re on. Harsh weather conditions have caused white directional lines, showing the way to turn lanes and other important changes of direction, to become difficult to see.

Repainting those lines is an important, annual project and as is the case with many municipal services, it costs money.

In an attempt to save taxpayer dollars, Belvidere’s public works department has been working with surrounding cities on a single, multi-jurisdictional contract for pavement markings for the coming year. Participating municipalities are Belvidere, Machesney Park, Cherry Valley, Loves Park, and Rockford.

Public Works Director Brent Anderson told the committee of the whole in February that the city in the past used some of the motor fuel tax allotment for that purpose. The change, which ultimately was approved 8-0 by city council, takes $60,000 for the work out of the public benefit fund.

There were questions at the committee meeting, with Alderman Dan Snow asking if the change would “push anybody out of business?

No, Director Anderson replied. On the question of reducing the number of bidders he replied “no” to that, as well.

“We would expect more bidders, not less,” he said. “Most of the ones we get are from the east [McHenry County area]. I think there’s a real good possibility that there will be some savings.”

Alderman Mark Sanderson wondered about the work being done before school starts.

With the four cities providing additional work for the successful contractor, Anderson said he thought that would bring a higher priority than usual.

“In the past, smaller amounts of work was done on a fill-in basis,” he said. “But, we will build completion dates in the contract.”

Council also has approved the 2017 MFT maintenance program, which provides overlays for two high-use streets and a few in residential areas.

Anderson said the MFT budget has $460,000 for these improvements.

Affected streets for arterial and collector are: East Sixth Street from East to Genoa Road and West Locus Street from State Street to Appleton Road.

Affected streets for residential areas are: 11th Street from Sixth to Ninth, Kishwaukee Street from Jackson to Roosevelt, Chrysler Drive from Genoa to Gateway Center, Andrews Drive from Logan to Julien, Van Buren Street from Menomonie to Fairgrounds, and Burgess Street from Lincoln to Fowler.

“These are the worst of the worst,” Anderson said of those streets needing a fresh overlay. There are a lot in need, but only so much money, he added.

Alderman Sanderson thanked the director for including Sixth Street on the list.

“We have had to patch it quite a bit, and some of Locust,” he said. “The sooner we get it [projects] out there, the better it will be.”