Quincy City Council approves land purchase for 48th and State roundabout

QUINCY — The Quincy City Council took its first formal steps to making way for Adams County’s first roundabout Monday night.

Aldermen approved a joint agreement between Quincy and Adams County that will lead to the purchase of land, construction and utilities needed to build a roundabout at 48th and State.

The total cost of the project is estimated at around $4 million with the City paying 60 percent and the County paying 40 percent. The City will pay more because it will shoulder all of the cost of about 600 feet of water lines west of the intersection on State Street.

The streets to the north and west of the intersection are considered “city” streets, while the streets to the east and south are considered to be in the county’s jurisdiction.

Adams County Board Chairman Kent Snider addressed the Council in support of the project. He said the intersection is seeing about 8,000 cars a day and it expected to increase. Traffic has increased in that area as population growth has increased in Quincy’s southeast corner as well as in Melrose Township.

The presence and growth of John Wood Community College as well as the addition of Rooney and Denman Elementary schools also factor into the equation.

Snider said the roundabout will be cheaper in the long run because there is no need for traffic signals.

Aldermen supported the primary resolution by a 10-4 vote. Both aldermen in the 2nd Ward (Dave Bauer and Jeff Bergman) and in the 4th Ward (Mike Farha and Tony Sassen) were the no votes.

Bids are expected to go out this summer.

In other action, aldermen approved:

• The low quote from The Lawn Guys of Quincy in the amount of $32,445.00 for lawn maintenance of city owned properties and right of ways.
• The purchase of 20,000 rounds of ammunition from Defense Logistics LLC of North Kansas City, MO, for a total cost of $7,901.25.
• The purchase of a Loki MK2 tactical drone package from Aardvark Tactical of La Verne, CA, for a total cost of $12,555.00.
• A resolution establishing a Whistleblower Reporting and Anti-Retaliation Policy for the City of
  Quincy.
• A resolution authorizing application for a Public Transportation Capital Assistance Grant under
  the Illinois Department of Transportation to offset certain transportation facility capital costs
  of City of Quincy.
• A $9 million loan through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program to finance improvements to the Combined Sewer Overflow System.
• A proposal from Crawford, Murphy and Tilly of Springfield, IL for the second phase of
  improvements which includes the expansion of the Waste Water Treatment Plant pump
  station and structures for an amount not to exceed $330,000.00.
• An invoice from Midwest Meter, Inc., of Edinburg, IL in the amount of $113,130.40 for the
  purchase of 10 six inch fire service assembly water meters to replace aging commercial
  meters.
• The appropriation of $520,000.00 of REBUILD Illinois bond funds for the replacement of
  the Harrison Street bridge (east of 24th Street) that crosses Curtis Creek.
• A resolution to accept a Quit Claim Deed from the owner of the property commonly known as
  426 College.
• A resolution to terminate the Funding Agreement between the Illinois Housing Development
  Authority and the City of Quincy under the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality
  Relief Program.