Facilities and maintenance staff told the Lee County Board that estimates for repairs or replacement of a county retaining wall are higher than anticipated and that the county is evaluating multiple material and design options before going to bid.

Dean Friel, reporting for facilities and maintenance, said the county's engineering consultant provided three cost options and that the estimates are coming in "over what we thought they might be." He said the firm is preparing design options to identify a long-term solution and that final costs will be known only after the county solicits bids. "They are coming in over what we thought they might be, and I think we assume that that might happen," Friel said.

Friel said the county is also investigating grants and is working with the Illinois Department of Transportation district office to pursue a portion of IDOT's announced $440,000,000 in local project funding. He said the county has submitted project considerations to the district and hopes to secure some funding for the work, but that additional scoping and design work is needed before the county can present firm numbers.

Officials said the consultant's figures are estimates, not bids, and that the county will retool specifications before issuing requests for proposals. No procurement decision was made at the meeting.