Title
Joint resolution adopting various amendments to the Lake County Highway Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance, (now to be titled as the “Lake County Highway Temporary Closure and Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance”), including the provisions of Public Act 91-775, an Act dealing with temporary closures of county highways.
Staff Summary
• Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance: Amendments
• Summary of Changes is included in the Track Changes Version of the Ordinance attached hereto
• A Chapter was added for the requirements of a temporary closure of a County Highway for Special Events (i.e. parades, marathons, etc.)
• The LCDOT may revoke any active permit issued to an applicant due to the failure of the applicant to comply with provisions of other permits or other County Ordinances.
• If projects have been inactive for 6 months or more, the applicant must re-initiate the process.
• Added is the provision that Owners of any utility or facility must be a member of Joint Utility Locator Information for Excavators (JULIE).
• A distinction is made between a Major and Minor maintenance of an existing facility or utility in order to streamline the process to obtain a permit for minor maintenance work and to encourage the maintenance of utilities and facilities by their Owners (in most cases a Municipality).
• Clarified the process for emergency repair work.
• Added a provision that the County Engineer has the ability to accept the use of materials other than steel for a casing pipe under the County Highway. (Has been a frequent request from some utility companies).
• Simplified the permit requirements for projects that have minor impact to the County Highway right-of-way (i.e. aerial work, single service connection or disconnection).
• As built drawings will be required in a digital format.
• Strengthened the insurance requirements to protect the County’s interests and property under the guidance of Risk Management in the HR and SAO departments.
Body
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the County Board of Lake County, Illinois, at its meeting of November 20, 1990, adopted an Ordinance dealing with Utility and Facility Placement and has revised it from time to time; and
WHEREAS, the County Board may from time to time amend the rules, regulations, and specifications imposed by the said Ordinance in order to promote the public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois General Assembly has passed HB3990 which has been signed by the Governor and codified as PA 91-775, an Act concerning temporary closures of county highways; and
WHEREAS, the County Engineer has proposed amendments to said ordinance to efficiently handle permit requests for temporary closures of county highways; and
WHEREAS, in addition, the County Engineer has proposed various other amendments to said Ordinance including those dealing with: streamlining the permit process for activities involved in the maintenance of existing utilities and facilities in-place in county highway right-of-ways, clarifying the permit process for emergency work, and codifying efficient practices learned from on-going permit activities over the last several years; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments comply with Section 3.7.2, Standards for Amendments, of the said Ordinance and the detailed information regarding the proposed amendments have been provided in the Staff Summary and Track Changes version of the amended ordinance attached hereto.
WHEREAS, the Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Financial and Administrative Committee of the County Board have reviewed said proposed amendments to the Lake County Highway Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance, now to be entitled the “Lake County Highway Temporary Closure and Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance”, and has found said amendments to promote the public health, safety, comfort, and general welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the County Board of Lake County, Illinois, hereby adopts the proposed amendments to the Lake County Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance, as enumerated in the Track Changes version of the amended ordinance attached hereto, to be effective upon passage.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Engineer publish a codified version of the Lake County Highway Temporary Closure and Utility and Facility Placement Ordinance, as provided by said ordinance.
Dated at Waukegan, Illinois this 12th day of January 2010