During the 2015 Illinois legislative session, IFCA has been watching and supporting HB 2580:  This bill prohibits highway road commissioners from permanently closing or reducing the weight limits on any road or portion of road without first holding a public hearing.  The road commissioner would have to create a memorandum of understanding explaining the reason for the proposed road posting or closing and answer any questions at the public hearing.  Then the county engineer must approve and file the memorandum with the road district clerk before the road can be permanently posted or closed.  The public hearing and approval by the county engineer creates public involvement and ensures checks and balances in the decisions that often been made unilaterally made by road commissioners.

 

This legislation passed the House 116-0 and the Senate 57-0 and is on its way to Governor Rauner's desk.  It will allow everyone in the township to have input into decisions made by road commissioners.  Ag retailers and distributors have often expressed to IFCA the problems they encounter with inopportune road postings in some townships.  We thought you would find this interesting!  To see a list of other bills IFCA has been working on this year, go to www.ifca.com and click on "Legislation" to view Illinois House, Senate and federal bills.  If you have questions please contact KJ Johnson.