McHenry County Blog

A press release from State Rep. Mike Tryon:

More than $18 Million in Transportation Improvements Coming to District 66

Mike Tryon

SPRINGFIELD….. State Representative Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) announced Wednesday that more than $18 million in state and federal funding is headed to District 66 for road improvement projects through 2019.

The comprehensive program, unveiled by Governor Pat Quinn at a press conference at the Capitol, calls for $12.62 billion to be spent from 2014-2019 on transportation improvements throughout Illinois. The statewide plan calls for the improvement of 2,142 miles of highway, the replacement or improvement of 517 bridges, and significant investments into the public transit system.

According to Tryon, state highway improvements that will take place within District 66 include:

• $9.1 million for improvements in on Route 47 and Route 176 between Route 14 and Reed Road in McHenry County
• $5 million for a bridge replacement on Route 47 at the Kishwaukee River in McHenry County
• $1.12 million for improvements to Route 68 between Prairie Lakes Road to Algonquin Road in Kane County
• $800,000 for a resurfacing project on Route 68 between Route 72 and the Cook County Line in Kane County
• $1.65 million for a resurfacing project on Route 72 between Route 20 and I-90 in Kane County
• $469,000 for a resurfacing project on Route 72 from Village Quarter Road to east of 3rd Street in Kane County

“Every one of these projects will improve congestion and safety on some of District 66’s most traveled roads,” said Tryon. “The area will also benefit from much-needed construction jobs during that construction phase, and permanent improvements that will benefit the people of McHenry and Kane Counties for years to come.”

Funding for the statewide program includes $7.2 billion in anticipated federal funds and $1.9 billion in state funds, with the remaining money coming from local and other sources.

A press release from the McHenry County Department of Transportation:

McHenry County Division of Transportation 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan Open House

The masthead from the new website.

WOODSTOCK, IL – The McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) is working on the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan to identify the County’s future transportation needs and figure out how to best address them.

As part of this project, MCDOT has been obtaining input through a number of different methods, including pop-up meetings, high school learning programs, focus groups, charettes, library display boards, and an interactive map on the website.

This comprehensive outreach effort has led to an unprecedented amount of participation among the public for a planning effort in McHenry County.

MCDOT will be holding an open house on Thursday, August 23, 2012, between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM at Crystal Lake City Hall.

The purpose of this open house is to allow attendees to review all of the public comment that has been heard to this point, review the goals and objectives of the plan, and provide your input on the direction of the Plan.

County staff and consultants will be in attendance to listen to your ideas and get your input.

To learn more about the Plan, review documents, and see what others in the County have to say about transportation on the “Map” visit http://www.2040mchenrycountyplan.org.

Additional public meetings will be held in the fall to present the draft plan.

The Chicago Tribune ran a long articleabout a deal that had been cut with the Village of Northfield and the Illinois Department of Transportation to finally widen Willow Road to four lanes.

The forty-year fight over widening Willow Road settled.

It bought back memories of the horse trading for support among legislators for Governor George Ryan’s infrastructure bill.

He called it Illinois FIRST and, yes, the letters stood for something.

I remember my price was too high.

I asked for four-lanes on Route 47 from the Tollway Reed Road and four lanes on Algonquin Road from Route 31 to Route 47.

In addition, I requested that the State take over Algonquin Road from Route 31 to 47.

I pointed out that every other east-west State road in McHenry and Kane County went west to at least Route 47, except Route 62.

Ryan’s Transportation Secretary would not agree to that.

So I voted against the bill. which it turned out, pretty much screwed the six-county area.

Our percentage of highway money from 43-44% (which Lake Villa’s Bob Churchill negotiated in 1989 when he sponsored a gas tax hike) spent down to 40%.

The six county area has about 56% of the vehicles and about 55% of the lane miles, so 40% is manifestly too low.

But, back to Willow Road.

The State Rep. that represented the area asked if she could make sure a project was not built if she voted “Yes.”

Folks were pretty much stunned at the request. I imagine no one had ever heard one like it before.

“I’ll vote to tax my constituents, if you will spend the money in your districts.”

That was the message I heard.

Now she is no longer in the General Assembly and the road is being widened.

The results for the $1 million were not even close in Dunham Township.

63% of the electorate voted to allow the Road District to borrow money to fix local roads.

The vote, with early and absentee votes outstanding, was 244-143.

A press release from Congressman Randy Hultgren:

Kirk, Lipinski, Hultgren Call for Extension of Surface Transportation Legislation

Longer-term bipartisan bill could mobilize $100 billion in new public-private partnerships

Chicago, IL – In a show of bipartisan, bi-cameral unity United States Senator Mark Kirk, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3), and Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14) joined representatives from the Illinois Road Builders Association, Operating Engineers Local 150 and other transportation advocates in calling for Congress to extend the expiring Surface Transportation Act.

This legislation authorizes federal transportation projects across the nation, and allows the collection of revenues that fund infrastructure improvements. It was introduced in the House late Friday that would extend aviation programs through January and highway and transit programs through March.

If Congress does not adopt this act by September 30th, federal reimbursement of highway and transit projects will stop, with $100 million in funding lost each day.

Mark Kirk

“Congress should quickly approve this extension legislation to avoid a shutdown of the Highway Trust Fund,” said Kirk.

“We also support a longer-term solution by lifting federal barriers that could mobilize up to $100 billion for transportation private-public partnerships.”

“America is in a jobs crisis, and nothing creates jobs quickly and over the long term like investing in transportation,” Rep. Dan Lipinski said.

“It’s high time we passed a robust, multi-year transportation reauthorization. The last bill expired two years ago, and it’s simply absurd that Congress and the President haven’t acted. I’m glad to see there’s a transportation component to the President’s jobs plan, but it’s less than 15 percent of the total and that’s simply not enough. We need a reauthorization that enables major projects and increases, not cuts, funding levels. The bipartisan two-year bill recently proposed on the Senate side would be a good start. In the meantime, we need to make sure we avoid a shutdown of transportation programs like the one that disabled the FAA this summer.”

Randy Hultgren

“I’m optimistic that a bipartisan agreement can be reached on a serious, long-term investment in our nation’s infrastructure,” said US Rep. Randy Hultgren, a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

“But until that agreement can be reached, we should extend SAFETEA-LU before it expires which will help to address the high unemployment in the transportation trades putting thousands of Americans back to work.”

The House legislation, authored by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL), would extend funding for surface transportation programs at Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 levels through March 31, 2011, and aviation programs through January 31, 2011. Congressional leaders reached the deal on Friday, but requires passage by both the House and the Senate.

As part of his efforts to find more private money for importing transportation projects, Senator Kirk today sent a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member on the Committee on Environment and Public Works, encouraging both the immediate extension of the legislation as passage of components of the Lincoln Legacy Infrastructure Development Act (S.1300) in a long-term transportation bill.

The Lincoln Legacy Act, which lifts barriers to private-public partnerships, could mobilize $100 billion in private investment to build new roads, airports, and railroads. Congressmen Hultgren and Lipinski, Illinois members of the House Transportation Committee, are collaborating on companion legislation in the House.

The event took place at the Wacker Drive reconstruction site. In 2005, Congress provided $25 million in federal funding for the project. Should a shutdown occur, $19 million of the unspent funds would be unable to be reimbursed.

Background on the Surface Transportation Act (SAFETEA-LU):

In 2005, Congress passed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) – a six-year $286-billion transportation bill funding roads and transit projects.

In 2009, SAFETEA-LU expired, and since then Congress passed seven short-term extensions to keep infrastructure improvements moving forward. The current extension expires on September 30th, and with it the federal government’s ability to collect gasoline taxes and reimburse states for projects.

While granting extensions is routine, last month the Federal Aviation Administration was shuttered for several weeks as leaders in the House and Senate fought over language to extend the program. Approximately 4,000 federal employees were furloughed and $300 million was lost in aviation revenue.

But a highway program shutdown would be even more devastating. Should the program lapse, the federal government will lose $100 million a day. Illinois would see a halt in the flow of federal funds and 65,000 Illinois jobs could be at risk according the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Approximately 62 percent of IDOT’s construction program comes from the federal government.

And, this isn’t an April Fool’s Day story. Rather it is a press release from the McHenry County Transportation Department:

Highway improvements scheduled by the McHenry County Transportation Department this year. (Click to enlarge.)

The McHenry County Division of Transportation is proud to announce the 2010 interactive construction map at  mchenrycountydot.org.

The key to map.

This map will allow the public user to see at a glance all of the County construction project locations, as well as more detailed project information on any particular project. This can be done by clicking on the identify (i) icon and then clicking on the highlighted portion of the roadway. If more detailed information is desired, contact information is included for your use. This map was produced through the assistance of the County’s Geographical Information System (GIS) Department.

Construction Projects

Kishwaukee Valley Road Bridge Replacement

This project will replace the bridge originally constructed in 1953 with a two-span prestressed concrete 36-inch deep I-beam bridge, with a poured in-place 8-inch thick concrete deck, spanning 123-feet in length. It includes approach pavement, milling and resurfacing, shoulder widening and guardrail placement.

Kishwaukee Valley Road was closed to thru traffic starting on February 1, 2010 between Hughes Road and Menge Road. Access up to the bridge is maintained for local traffic only. A marked detour is provided using Hughes Road, U.S. Route 14, Dunham Road and Menge Road. (click here for the detour map).

This project is scheduled to be completed approximately June 12, 2010.

Alden Road Bridge Replacement and Roadway Improvements

This project will replace the existing bridge built in 1939, with a 58-foot long by 40-foot wide, single-span poured in-place concrete bridge deck, on seven, 36-inch deep precast prestressed concrete I-beams.

This project also includes complete pavement and drainage feature reconstruction from about 600 feet south of Illinois Route 173 to about 1,800 feet north of Illinois route 173. Driveways and sidewalks within the project limits will be replaced and a new drainage system will be installed throughout. Along with the new pavement, curb & gutter will be provided to improve drainage. Two special Stormwater Treatment Structures will be installed before stormwater enters the creek to protect water quality.

The Project will be built using stage construction (one side at a time) and will require a temporary traffic signal to limit the bridge to one-way traffic for the duration of the project. Two-way traffic will be maintained on the roadway portion using temporary pavement.

Work on the project started approximately February 22, 2010 and the project has an October 31, 2010 completion date.

Virginia Road Reconstruction

This project will reconstruct Virginia Road between Rakow Road and Illinois Route 31, with the exception of the new pavement recently constructed in connection with the Waste Transfer Facility, and the intersection at Illinois Route 31, which will be done as a separate future project.

This project will be constructed using Stage construction, maintaining one–way traffic southeast bound only (Rakow Road to Illinois Route 31) for the duration of the construction. Northwest bound traffic will be detoured on Illinois Route 31 to the north and then west on Rakow Road back to Virginia Road.

The contractor plans to start work around April 19, 2010 and the project completion date is July 2, 2010.

Walkup Road Widening, Resurfacing and Shared-use Path Construction

This project will provide pavement widening to extend the three-lane section of pavement from Dvorak Drive through Crystal Springs Road, add traffic signals at Pleasant Hill Road, Edgewood Road and Crystal Springs Road, add right and left turn lanes at intersections, and resurface the roadway in this area. In addition, a shared-use path will be constructed between Veteran Acres Park and Pleasant Hill Road on the east side of the roadway to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the area.

Beginning in December 2009, public utility relocation work was started with the intent to move existing utilities out of conflict with the new roadway, path and storm sewers prior to construction to avoid delays. The contractor is expected to start construction around May 1, 2010 and project completion is expected in the summer of 2011.

Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout utilizing stage construction with daily or periodic lane closures as required using flaggers. This work will create delays and traffic disruption at times.

Federal Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) funds will pay for 80% of the design and construction of this project and the 20% local match will use McHenry County Division of Transportation funds.

A project website (www.walkuproad.info) will be available to ask questions, get project updates, and obtain project information.

Rakow Road Widening, Relocation & Reconstruction

This project is currently in the Land Acquisition and Final Design stages. A summer 2010 letting is desired but is dependent upon the completion of the needed right-of-way purchases. It is anticipated that two construction seasons will be necessary to complete this project which is estimated to cost approximately 30 million dollars.

This project will relocate Rakow Road to the east of it’s current alignment starting at McHenry Avenue to soften the curve to the north and east.

It will also provide three thru-lanes of traffic in each direction from Ackman Road to Pyott Road, and dual left-turn lanes at Ackman Road, McHenry Avenue, Pyott Road, Pingree Road and Illinois Route 31.

Two thru-lanes in each direction will be constructed from Pyott Road to Illinois Route 31, and a pedestrian/bike path bridge will be constructed over Rakow Road for the McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairie Trail Path. Public Utility coordination is currently underway.

A project website will be available in the future to ask questions, get project updates, and obtain project information.

Pavement Preservation Projects

County Paving (Milling and Resurfacing) Project

This project includes milling and resurfacing on various County Highways as highlighted on the map in green. The project includes milling to a depth of 3.75” and patching any deteriorated pavement as needed. Then priming and placing a 2.25” lift of Binder Course followed by a 1.5” lift of Surface Course. Shoulder gravel will be added and thermoplastic pavement markings will be placed. The milled pavement material (RAP) is all recycled and re-used as aggregates in the new Hot Mix Asphalt.

The roads to be resurfaced under this project include:

• Nelson and Deep Cut Roads between U.S. Route 14 and Charles/Alden Road
• Hartland Road from U.S. Route 14 to Nelson Road
• Hobe Road from South Street to Kishwaukee Valley Road
• River Road between Illinois Route 176 and Lily Lake Road
• Ramer Road from Oak Grove Road to Lawrence Road
• Oak Grove Road from Illinois Route 173 to Ramer Road
• Charles Road, a short repair section just west of Illinois Route 47

This project will resurface 20 lane miles of roadway at a bid cost of $2,560,270.95.

Work on this project is expected to start about May 31, 2010 and has a contract completion date of August 6, 2010. The impact to traffic will be daily lane closures in the immediate work area using flaggers to control one-way traffic thru the work zone. These temporary lane closures will take place throughout the various stages of the project and should generally minimize delays to a short duration.

Chapel Hill Road Resurfacing (ARRA Project)

These signs will pop up on Chapel Hill Road. This one is on Route 14 in Crystal Lake near The Freeze.

This project is funded through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and will mill and resurface four sections of Chapel Hill Road that fall between previous intersection improvements. The actual project length is a total of approximately 1.9 miles between Miller Road and Johnsburg Road at a bid cost of $568,605.96.

Work on this project is expected to start around June 1, 2010 and has a 25 working day duration or five to six weeks to complete. This work will essentially be the same as described above for milling and resurfacing in terms of work methods and traffic impacts.

Crack Sealing Contract

This project includes routing and sealing cracks in the pavement using a hot applied rubberized filler material. This work is done to extend the life of newer pavements by minimizing the water intrusion into the pavement and base material, thus lessening the severity of the effects of freeze-thaw cycles.

Crack sealing will be done on the following roads in 2010:

• Kishwaukee Valley Road from the west County Line to U.S. Route 14
• Vermont Road between Garden Valley Road and Kishwaukee Valley Road
• Coral Road from Illinois Route 23 to South Union Road
• Hunter Road from County Line Road to White Oaks Road
• White Oaks Road between Illinois Route 173 and Hunter Road

If quantity remains in the contract after completion of those routes, Genoa Road and Harmony Road east of U.S. Route 20 will be treated to the extent possible.

This contract will crack seal about 42 lane miles of County Highways at a total bid cost of $125,211.06. The impact to traffic will be daily lane closures in the immediate work area using flaggers to control one-way traffic thru the moving work zone, and traffic delays should be minimal.

Microsurfacing Project

The 2010 project is still under development as the McHenry County Division of Transportation is working to create new mix designs using a more durable aggregate material than what is currently readily available locally. The project is anticipated to be ready for bidding in May with construction taking place later in the summer.

The road planned for this year is Charles Road from Nelson Road to Illinois Route 120. This includes about 8 lane miles of roadway at an estimated cost of $250,000. The 2009 microsurfacing project was not completed last year, but should be completed by the contractor in May, which includes work on Roberts Road and Altenberg Road.

The traffic impact of the microsurfacing work is more severe than paving due to the fact that the cure time of the microsurface material ranges from 30 to 90 minutes. Traffic must be kept off of the material during this time, creating long stretches of single-lane closures for the duration of curing time. Efforts will be made to minimize delays but due to the nature of the work, delays encountered could be significant.

Website Updates

Please visit our website at www.mchenrycountydot.org for periodic updates and for newly launched project specific websites.

Remember – Please drive safely in construction zones and watch out for workers!!

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-16) has a message for newly sworn in Governor Pat Quinn.

He wants Quinn “to immediately focusing on passing a capital bill that would improve roads and rail throughout the sate and put thousands of Illinois residents to work.”

His press release follows:

(ROCKFORD) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today sent a letter to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn urging him to immediately focus on passing a capital bill that would improve roads and rail throughout the state and put tens of thousands of Illinois residents to work.

Calling it the “real stimulus plan,” Manzullo said a capital bill would finally spend the $6.2 billion in federal transportation funds – sitting unused in Springfield since 2005 – on road, bridge and rail expansion projects throughout Illinois. The $825 billion stimulus bill the U.S. House passed last week – Manzullo voted against it – would provide $1 billion for road and rail projects in Illinois.

“The $6.2 billion in federal transportation funding we delivered to the state has sat untouched by our state’s leaders the past 4 years. In the meantime, vital road and transit projects in the northern Illinois district I represent have gone unfulfilled as our residents have continued to suffer with unnecessary traffic congestion and hazardous road conditions,” Manzullo said.

“Under your new leadership as Governor, I respectfully request that you reach out to the members of the Illinois General Assembly and make the passage of a capital bill your number one priority in the new legislative session.”

Working with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and then-Senator Barack Obama, Manzullo secured $51 million in the 2005 surface transportation bill for a host of road and rail projects throughout northern Illinois.

“In addition, the Illinois Congressional Delegation secured a record $6.2 billion, a 33 percent increase over the last transportation bill, for the State of Illinois to use at its discretion. Manzullo and the other Members of Congress are concerned that the state’s failure to spend the money could hurt chances to get more funding for Illinois when the next federal transportation bill comes up for a vote next year.

= = = = =
The photo of Congressman Don Manzullo was taken at a press conference behind the old Algonquin City Hall at the intersection of Routes 62 and 31. The “gridlock” photo was included in a mailing Manzullo made during his fall 2006 campaign.

Congressman Don Manzullo (R-16) has a message for newly sworn in Governor Pat Quinn.

He wants Quinn “to immediately focusing on passing a capital bill that would improve roads and rail throughout the sate and put thousands of Illinois residents to work.”

His press release follows:

(ROCKFORD) Congressman Don Manzullo (R-Egan) today sent a letter to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn urging him to immediately focus on passing a capital bill that would improve roads and rail throughout the state and put tens of thousands of Illinois residents to work.

Calling it the “real stimulus plan,” Manzullo said a capital bill would finally spend the $6.2 billion in federal transportation funds – sitting unused in Springfield since 2005 – on road, bridge and rail expansion projects throughout Illinois. The $825 billion stimulus bill the U.S. House passed last week – Manzullo voted against it – would provide $1 billion for road and rail projects in Illinois.

“The $6.2 billion in federal transportation funding we delivered to the state has sat untouched by our state’s leaders the past 4 years. In the meantime, vital road and transit projects in the northern Illinois district I represent have gone unfulfilled as our residents have continued to suffer with unnecessary traffic congestion and hazardous road conditions,” Manzullo said.

“Under your new leadership as Governor, I respectfully request that you reach out to the members of the Illinois General Assembly and make the passage of a capital bill your number one priority in the new legislative session.”

Working with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and then-Senator Barack Obama, Manzullo secured $51 million in the 2005 surface transportation bill for a host of road and rail projects throughout northern Illinois.

“In addition, the Illinois Congressional Delegation secured a record $6.2 billion, a 33 percent increase over the last transportation bill, for the State of Illinois to use at its discretion. Manzullo and the other Members of Congress are concerned that the state’s failure to spend the money could hurt chances to get more funding for Illinois when the next federal transportation bill comes up for a vote next year.

= = = = =
The photo of Congressman Don Manzullo was taken at a press conference behind the old Algonquin City Hall at the intersection of Routes 62 and 31. The “gridlock” photo was included in a mailing Manzullo made during his fall 2006 campaign.

Here is an email received from Crystal Lake’s State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Dear Resident:

A statewide construction program has not been passed in the last nine years and failure to pass one now could result in the loss of $9 billion dollars of matching federal transportation funds that could be used to fix our crumbling roads, bridges and schools. Political infighting on this issue also jeopardizes the opportunity to create thousands of job opportunities at a time when citizens could benefit from additional employment.

Just recently, the House was called back into session and voted to pass SB 1460. The bill increases bond authorization for transportation by $360 million—to be divided $240 million for highways and $120 million for mass transit—for the sole purpose of matching federal funding. While this measure is one piece of the puzzle to prevent us from losing critical federal dollars, we still have more work to do to in producing a statewide comprehensive capital plan that will identify and earmark how funding should be spent for infrastructure projects.

Illinois is on track to reaching a record high 3,450 bad miles of roads in just a few years, and have 2,450 of its bridges have been rated “structurally deficient.” I continue to support a jobs and infrastructure plan that will revitalize the economy and improve the quality of life for our residents.

Pay Raise Rejected

I am pleased to report the Senate joined the House in rejecting cost-of-living increases as recommended in House Joint Resolution 132. The measure was rejected with a 47-0 vote.

In Illinois, the state’s Compensation Review Board issues a report each even-numbered year making recommendations for salary increases for members of the General Assembly, the state’s top elected officials, and executive members of state departments, agencies, boards and commissions. The board’s recommendations automatically go into effect July 1st of the next calendar year unless both houses of the General Assembly vote to reject them.

Comptroller Dan Hynes had indicated the state could not afford to award almost 12 percent increases for the state’s top leaders and its legislators. In the House, legislators agreed finances should be used to pay down debt and fund other worthy projects in need. I was pleasantly surprised the Senate also followed suit in rejecting the increases.

Governor Vetoes Ethics Bill

The Governor rejected ethics legislation this month and instead sent the bill with changes back to legislators.

The original bill stands as House Bill 824, a measure that will ban supporters who have or want major state contracts worth at least $50,000 from giving to politicians who dole out that business. The legislation would also require those business entities and affiliated persons to register with the State Board of Elections where information regarding their bids or state contracts will be maintained in a searchable database.

The Governor’s amendatory veto of the bill removed a provision that would prohibit anyone seeking state business from donating to the person who awards the contract. Instead, it would ban contributions from those who have won a contract. Some lawmakers have already criticized the move and plan to override the veto. They will need a 3/5 majority in both the House and Senate. Otherwise the proposal fails.

New Law to Save Counties Money

A bill that I sponsored has recently become law allowing county boards to rent computer equipment for up to five years. Currently, county boards are forbidden from renting or leasing equipment that would last past the next county board election. As such, when county boards rent equipment, those leases can only go past a 2-year maximum if the contract includes an “opt-out” clause that the next county board can maintain. Those clauses usually increase the cost of the lease agreement.

House Bill 2913 provides that the county board of any county may by a 2/3 vote enter into a lease for a period of not to exceed five years for computer equipment, data processing machinery, and software as may be required for its corporate purposes. This measure can allow counties to save money because they would have the option of entering into lease or rental agreements for equipment at a lower cost.

I was also successful this week in passing House Bill 4766 into law. That measure specifically allows counties to lease space on a telecommunications tower to other entities, such as cell phone providers. The initiative was created because McHenry County is seeking specific legislative authority to lease space on a 911 tower to a wireless phone company.

Thank you again for showing an interest in legislative matters. Please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime at my district office at (815) 459-6453 if I can be of help.

Sincerely,

Mike Tryon
McHenry County Republican Party Chairman
State Representative, District 64

Here is an email received from Crystal Lake’s State Rep. Mike Tryon:

Dear Resident:

A statewide construction program has not been passed in the last nine years and failure to pass one now could result in the loss of $9 billion dollars of matching federal transportation funds that could be used to fix our crumbling roads, bridges and schools. Political infighting on this issue also jeopardizes the opportunity to create thousands of job opportunities at a time when citizens could benefit from additional employment.

Just recently, the House was called back into session and voted to pass SB 1460. The bill increases bond authorization for transportation by $360 million—to be divided $240 million for highways and $120 million for mass transit—for the sole purpose of matching federal funding. While this measure is one piece of the puzzle to prevent us from losing critical federal dollars, we still have more work to do to in producing a statewide comprehensive capital plan that will identify and earmark how funding should be spent for infrastructure projects.

Illinois is on track to reaching a record high 3,450 bad miles of roads in just a few years, and have 2,450 of its bridges have been rated “structurally deficient.” I continue to support a jobs and infrastructure plan that will revitalize the economy and improve the quality of life for our residents.

Pay Raise Rejected

I am pleased to report the Senate joined the House in rejecting cost-of-living increases as recommended in House Joint Resolution 132. The measure was rejected with a 47-0 vote.

In Illinois, the state’s Compensation Review Board issues a report each even-numbered year making recommendations for salary increases for members of the General Assembly, the state’s top elected officials, and executive members of state departments, agencies, boards and commissions. The board’s recommendations automatically go into effect July 1st of the next calendar year unless both houses of the General Assembly vote to reject them.

Comptroller Dan Hynes had indicated the state could not afford to award almost 12 percent increases for the state’s top leaders and its legislators. In the House, legislators agreed finances should be used to pay down debt and fund other worthy projects in need. I was pleasantly surprised the Senate also followed suit in rejecting the increases.

Governor Vetoes Ethics Bill

The Governor rejected ethics legislation this month and instead sent the bill with changes back to legislators.

The original bill stands as House Bill 824, a measure that will ban supporters who have or want major state contracts worth at least $50,000 from giving to politicians who dole out that business. The legislation would also require those business entities and affiliated persons to register with the State Board of Elections where information regarding their bids or state contracts will be maintained in a searchable database.

The Governor’s amendatory veto of the bill removed a provision that would prohibit anyone seeking state business from donating to the person who awards the contract. Instead, it would ban contributions from those who have won a contract. Some lawmakers have already criticized the move and plan to override the veto. They will need a 3/5 majority in both the House and Senate. Otherwise the proposal fails.

New Law to Save Counties Money

A bill that I sponsored has recently become law allowing county boards to rent computer equipment for up to five years. Currently, county boards are forbidden from renting or leasing equipment that would last past the next county board election. As such, when county boards rent equipment, those leases can only go past a 2-year maximum if the contract includes an “opt-out” clause that the next county board can maintain. Those clauses usually increase the cost of the lease agreement.

House Bill 2913 provides that the county board of any county may by a 2/3 vote enter into a lease for a period of not to exceed five years for computer equipment, data processing machinery, and software as may be required for its corporate purposes. This measure can allow counties to save money because they would have the option of entering into lease or rental agreements for equipment at a lower cost.

I was also successful this week in passing House Bill 4766 into law. That measure specifically allows counties to lease space on a telecommunications tower to other entities, such as cell phone providers. The initiative was created because McHenry County is seeking specific legislative authority to lease space on a 911 tower to a wireless phone company.

Thank you again for showing an interest in legislative matters. Please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime at my district office at (815) 459-6453 if I can be of help.

Sincerely,

Mike Tryon
McHenry County Republican Party Chairman
State Representative, District 64