Adams County Board approves $1.7 million share of 48th and State roundabout

QUINCY — When asked about funding a majority of the 48th and State roundabout, Adams County Engineer Jim Frankenhoff said that wasn’t an issue.

“We have the money,” said Frankenhoff, whose term as county engineer was also renewed by the County Board at Tuesday night’s meting.

So the County Board approved to appropriate $1.7 million for the much-discussed roundabout. The project has been kicked around since 2014 and most of the funding has been set aside ever since.

There will also be nearly $460,000 from the state in Rebuild Illinois dollars and $60,000 from the county’s Matching Tax Fund. Adams County is paying roughly 40 percent of the approximately $4 million project while the City of Quincy will pay about 60 percent.

On March 8, the Quincy City Council approved its share of the joint agreement that will lead to the purchase of land, construction and utilities needed to build the roundabout. The City is paying a higher share because of infrastructure needs along State Street west of the intersection, which are in the City’s jurisdiction.

Buying the land, getting easements and rights of way are the next steps and those are already in the works, but now can be finalized.

Board member Travis Cooley (R-District 4) was the lone no vote on the project. He wanted to know why this wasn’t being brought before the public for more discussion.

Frankenhoff said having traffic signals was discussed, but roundabouts are now more prevalent and are “more economical” in the long run because you don’t have to eventually replace the electronic systems that you have in signals.

Traffic has increased exponentially since John Wood Community College built its 48th and Harrison campus in 1998. The Quincy Public Schools also added two elementary schools, Rooney and Denman, that contribute to the traffic along with other growth in housing and retail.

The County Board also accepted the resignation of Megan Howell (R-District 2). Howell was appointed in October to fill the late Rebecca Weed’s seat.

In other action, the board:

• Accepted an intergovernmental agreement to provide management services services for Hancock County Ambulance Service. This is strictly a management/operational oversight agreement and will not require either side to respond to emergency calls in the other county. Hancock County will pay Adams County $5,000 a month for the service.
• Approved three-year union contracts with the Fraternal Order of Police for Adams County patrol sergeants, corrections sergeants and court services and with the Police Benevolent and Protection Association for corrections officers. The contracts call for 3 percent annual raises and will have retroactive pay going back to December 2021 when the old contracts expired.