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County Board OKs Contract for Rochester Road Work

Posted on: Thursday, 13 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

By JOHN REYNOLDS STAFF WRITER

The Sangamon County Board Tuesday approved a $1.2 million contract to improve a three-mile stretch of Rochester Road between Illinois 29 and East Lake Shore Drive.

County engineer Tim Zahrn said work already has begun on the project, which includes resurfacing, improving drainage and installing traffic lights at Oak Hill Road.

"With all of the development near Oak Hill Road, we have quite a bit more traffic coming out that way," Zahrn explained, adding that he does not expect work to begin on the intersection until spring. The entire project should be finished by June, he said.

The funding is coming from the county's motor fuel tax proceeds. Included in the $1.2 million is about $310,000 from the village of Rochester.

The contractor will be Truman L. Flatt & Sons Inc. of Springfield.

Also Tuesday, a rezoning request by Mark Boggs that would have allowed a dog kennel on Illinois 97 in Salisbury was turned down by the board.

Boggs wanted to build the kennel next to an existing business. His plans include putting a house there, too.

Boggs said the kennel would be a solid building, and the neighbors would not be bothered by barking dogs or odors.

Neighbors, however, lobbied the board to deny the rezoning request.

"This is a residential neighborhood, and we want to keep it residential," Bill Chestnut said.

Just four board members - Dick Bond, Ted Buecker, Sam Cahnman and Joel Tjelmeland - voted to grant the variance. Board members Clyde Bunch and John Fulgenzi voted "present."

Other action

The following agenda items passed unanimously (except where noted):

* Resolution establishing 40 mph speed zone on Turkey Run Road from Turkey Run Bridge to the curve on Guest Road; and on Barlow Road from Wolf Creek Bridge to 5959 Barlow Road.

* Payment of up to $35,000 to Cummins Engineering Corp. for culvert and roadway improvements on Waverly Road (County Highway 10) from Illinois 104 to County Highway 40.

* A request by Bryan Meyerhoff for a conditional use permit to allow horse-riding lessons at 4674 Starwalt Lane, Sherman.

* A request by Michael Huesing for a rezoning to B-3 general business district for 1223 W. Miller.

* A request by Charles and Shannon Lynch for a variance to allow a lot area of 0.8 acres, a variance of the front-yard setback and a variance of the side-yard requirement for property at 2741 Green Valley Road.

* A request by John Jr. and Lori Haggard for a variance to allow one lot width with no road frontage and to allow the lot width to be met greater than 60 feet from a public road on property at 3237 Luthin Road, Sherman.

* A request by Lewis and Alison Fehring for a variance to allow an ornamental iron works fabrication business in a machine shed at 10128 Gilreath Road, Chatham. Board members Tim Griffin, Tyrone Pace and Doris Turner voted "no."

* Payment of not more than $24,000 to Hanson Professional Services to prepare plans for highway improvements on Cardinal Hill Road from south of Rochester to Buckhart Road.

* Resolution approving an amendment to the precinct realignments.

Source: State Journal Register

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