During a relatively brief meeting of the Monroe County Board on Monday, commissioners approved an engineering agreement with Gonzalez Companies for work in Waterloo to extend Rogers Street north to intersect with a planned extension of Country Club Lane.

Earlier this year, Monroe County Engineer Aaron Metzger said he was “hopeful” work could begin in 2024.

On Monday, Metzger said the project is “moving forward” and “if right-of-way (acquisition) goes well,” it could start sometime near the end of this year.

Metzger explained once engineering is complete, it will take about 26 weeks for the letting and bidding process.

The engineering agreement cost just over $115,000, although Metzger also pointed out the project is a joint venture with the City of Waterloo, with costs split evenly between county and city.

The extension and intersection of Rogers Street and Country Club Lane is the first phase of the project. 

Per a report in early 2022, the second phase of this project would extend Rose Lane east-northeast from its current terminus in the Northwinds subdivision and connect it with a second northward extension of Rogers Lane from its planned intersection with Country Club Lane.

A traffic signal is proposed at the intersection of Rose Lane at Route 3 just south of Dobbs Tire & Auto Centers in Waterloo when construction of the second phase is complete.   

In other business from Monday, commissioners approved a request by Oak Hill administrator Shari Kruep for $18,615 for resident refunds and write-offs.

Kruep explained the refunds were a function of co-pays not being collected and residents being discharged prior to the end of a month after having pre-paid for an entire month.

Also during the meeting, the board agreed in principle on providing up to $25,000 for creation of a strategic plan for the Monroe County 708 Board.

The 708 Board, also known as the Monroe County Community Mental Health Funding Board, was established in 1978 to create a means of collecting and disbursing local tax revenue to promote mental health awareness and services in compliance with the Illinois  Community Mental Health Act.

Dave Eustis, 708 Board commissioner, said the strategic plan is required by the board’s bylaws and by legislative mandates, and the plan would be completed by 2025.

Eustis also said the board has not entered into any agreements with a firm to help create the plan, although he has contacted interested parties who could begin the work pending funding approval.

Since the funds will be taken out of the county’s American Rescue Plan Act account, a resolution authorizing use of the funds will need to be passed.

The commissioners are expected to pass the resolution at its next meeting, which will be held Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Monroe County Courthouse in Waterloo.