BELVIDERE - An intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation to build a new passenger railroad station near downtown has been referred to city council for action.
Aldermen, sitting as a committee of the whole, approved that step Monday night (Dec. 8) in a 9-0 vote.
This is a $2.643-million project that will be paid for entirely by IDOT, according to the agreement. The only possible city exposure would be cost overages, and any design, environmental and construction activities not included in the breakdown of costs.
Once the agreement has been approved design of the station will be done. Construction of the platform and at least a shell of the depot must be done by October 2015.
Public Works Superintendent Brent Anderson told the committee the city will pay for the work up-front, and be reimbursed by the state. City Attorney Michael Drella assured officials that "if they (state) stop paying, we stop work."
"Our exposure will be somewhat limited," Anderson said.
The project also includes a 150-space parking lot that will utilize the existing lot across Whitney Boulevard from city hall. The location of the depot has been moved slightly so it doesn't encroach on the Boone County Historical Museum property.
Here is a breakdown of the overall cost:
Preliminary engineering, $30,000; environmental, $10,000; final design, $100,000; construction project management, $60,000; parking lot, $200,000; platform, about 500 feet long, $419,375; and the depot, $1.454 million. The contingency fund, for unexpected expenditures, will be $369,655.
Alderman Ron Brooks said he saw in the agreement that IDOT could pull out of the project if the work isn't funded.
"Yes, that's typical," Anderson replied.
Belvidere will be a stop on the new train service that will link Rockford with the city of Chicago.
SURVEY FINDS VIOLATIONS
Also Monday the committee was informed by Anderson that the Environmental Protection Agency had conducted a field survey of the city's water system. The survey was conducted Nov. 19, with two violations of state standards being found.
One of them was the need to conduct a cross-connection survey of the 7,770 customers of the water system. The purpose of the study is to "identify improper plumbing arrangements that may allow contamination of the water supply through backflow or back siphonage conditions, and to require those improper plumbing arrangements to be eliminated."
Such a survey should be conducted every two years, he said, with Belvidere last doing one about four years ago.
The other violation was having a "significantly outdated" emergency management plan. That plan is to include the following items:
1. Identification of potential natural and human-caused risks to the water system.
2. Identification of personnel responsible for response actions, notification procedures and public/press relations should such an emergency occur.
3. Measures for averting or avoiding emergencies and the means for implementing the emergency response plan. An emergency management plan must be prepared and kept updated.
