Clark County Approves Highway Engineering Agreements, Discusses Infrastructure Upgrades

Clark County Board Meeting | February 20, 2026

Article Summary: The Clark County Highway Department received approval for a $20,562 engineering agreement to support a shoulder-paving project near Westfield, alongside updates on facility maintenance and material acquisitions.

Clark County Board Key Points:

• The board approved a $20,562 engineering agreement with Cummins Engineering for the Westfield Road HSIP Project.

• The county previously secured a $182,606 grant to complete the construction phase of the Westfield Road shoulder paving.

• A joint agreement was approved for the Hogue Town road project.

• The Highway Department has ordered 75 tons of extra sand and is re-skinning an older facility building to match a newer structure.

The Clark County Board on Friday, February 20, 2026, unanimously approved several resolutions advancing regional road projects and received operational updates from the county’s Highway Department.

Highway Engineer Dallas Richardson walked the board through his monthly agenda, beginning with the Westfield Road Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Project. Richardson reported that the county successfully applied for a grant to pave the shoulders along a stretch of road just outside of Westfield, within Clark County limits.

While the grant provides $182,606 to cover the construction phase, Richardson noted that it does not cover the project’s engineering costs. To bridge the gap, the board reviewed an engineering resolution totaling $20,562 with Cummins Engineering. Board Member Todd Kuhn made the motion to approve the engineering agreement, seconded by Susan Guinnip, and the measure passed unanimously via a roll call vote.

The board also advanced the Hogue Town project (Sec 13-00272-00-RS). Richardson presented a joint agreement detailing the project’s funding breakdown, which includes Surface Transportation Block Grant (STR) monies, state match funds, and a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) grant. The joint agreement was approved unanimously following a motion by Mike Parsons and a second by Randal Stephens.

Additionally, the board unanimously approved the Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Maintenance Letting resolution, though Richardson cautioned the board that “the cost of doing business is going up.”

In general operational updates, Richardson reported that his staff completed their mandatory annual Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) training on January 28. The department is also currently re-skinning an older maintenance building so its exterior will match the department’s new building. Furthermore, the county has proactively ordered 75 tons of extra sand for road treatment.

Richardson concluded his report by noting he is actively working on bridge inspections, adding that the State of Illinois will eventually assume responsibility for taking over the bridge inspection process.