Commissioners Tackle Rising Costs In County Road Repairs
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
At his last Kosciusko County commissioners meeting in official capacity as county highway superintendent and engineer, Rob Ladson had several items to get through the commissioners.
Ladson has accepted a job in South Bend.
His biggest concern was the county's road program. Rising oil prices are affecting everything the county highway department does and impact the department's budget, he said.
Ladson moved money around to cover basic highway maintenance, but to fund more than $600,000 for road hot mix - the type of road surface most people like to drive on - the county has only $280,000. And that's just an estimate if oil prices continue to rise.
Ladson said he could dip into certificates of deposit funds by getting an additional appropriation from the county council. His concern on that, however, is that with prices rising but a flatline of money coming in, there's no money to replace what they take out of the CDs.
Avis Gunter, southern district commissioner, said she wants to continue the road hot mix program.
"... Money in a CD doesn't make a road better," said Ron Truex, middle district commissioner.
Ladson said he will request an additional appropriation from the county council for the road hot mix program. Truex asked if the county highway department will have to cut back on the number of road miles they will re-surface this year and Ladson said yes.
Residents in Claypool, Ladson told the commissioners, want to remove the overgrowth around the Claypool overpass and plant flowers.
Paul Berkey, representing Claypool Good Neighbors, said they want to clean out the old debris around the overpass and prepare the soil for planting wildflowers. There will be no cost to the county, as seeds and labor will be provided. The Warsaw Community High School football team may assist with the project.
Gunter said she "definitely" supports the project, and Ladson said the highway department also is supportive. The work will be done only on the county right of way.
The commissioners approved for Claypool Good Neighbors to go ahead with the project.
Work to the west of Ind. 15 and CR 350N will bring a new road to that area. The area has split road jurisdiction between the county and Warsaw. Ladson suggested establishing a 30 miles per hour speed limit on Airport Road to the city's portion. Truex suggested 35 mph, and that was approved.
Ladson recommended, and the commissioners approved, NiBlock Excavating's bid of $93,832.95 for the Bridge 6 project on Barbee Lake. The other bid came from Phend & Brown for $98,179.18. The engineer's estimate was $129,595.55.
The commissioners also approved Ladson's recommendation for a change order of about $5,000 for additional piles for the Bridge 289 project on Cedar Point Road and for changing the stop signs at CR 525N and Pound Road.
Kim Nance and Wayne Luchenbill, Kosciusko Development Inc., requested the county apply for a Indiana Department of Commerce grant on their behalf to pay for repaving an industrial park on Pound Drive near CRs 100E and 200N. Estimated cost, with the rising oil prices, was $55,000 last year but as much as $67,000 as of Tuesday, Ladson said. All costs are subject to change, depending on rising oil prices.
Total length of the gravel road to be paved is 1,900 feet.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Selected A. Hattersley & Sons as the qualified provider for the courthouse renovation project. Hattersley was the only qualified provider who submitted the proper information to the county, according to county administrator Ron Robinson.
• Approved the Child Abuse Council to place blue ribbons on the courthouse trees for April and to hold a candlelight vigil April 29 at 5 p.m. on the courthouse lawn.
• Appointed Tom Groninger to the wage committee for the construction of Mentone's new town hall.
• Heard from county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell that the tax rates for the county were received Monday. Tax bills are expected to be sent out by April 26.
Commissioners present at Tuesday's meeting were Ron Truex, middle district, and Avis Gunter, southern district. Not present was Brad Jackson, northern district. The county commissioners meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse every other Tuesday. [[In-content Ad]]
At his last Kosciusko County commissioners meeting in official capacity as county highway superintendent and engineer, Rob Ladson had several items to get through the commissioners.
Ladson has accepted a job in South Bend.
His biggest concern was the county's road program. Rising oil prices are affecting everything the county highway department does and impact the department's budget, he said.
Ladson moved money around to cover basic highway maintenance, but to fund more than $600,000 for road hot mix - the type of road surface most people like to drive on - the county has only $280,000. And that's just an estimate if oil prices continue to rise.
Ladson said he could dip into certificates of deposit funds by getting an additional appropriation from the county council. His concern on that, however, is that with prices rising but a flatline of money coming in, there's no money to replace what they take out of the CDs.
Avis Gunter, southern district commissioner, said she wants to continue the road hot mix program.
"... Money in a CD doesn't make a road better," said Ron Truex, middle district commissioner.
Ladson said he will request an additional appropriation from the county council for the road hot mix program. Truex asked if the county highway department will have to cut back on the number of road miles they will re-surface this year and Ladson said yes.
Residents in Claypool, Ladson told the commissioners, want to remove the overgrowth around the Claypool overpass and plant flowers.
Paul Berkey, representing Claypool Good Neighbors, said they want to clean out the old debris around the overpass and prepare the soil for planting wildflowers. There will be no cost to the county, as seeds and labor will be provided. The Warsaw Community High School football team may assist with the project.
Gunter said she "definitely" supports the project, and Ladson said the highway department also is supportive. The work will be done only on the county right of way.
The commissioners approved for Claypool Good Neighbors to go ahead with the project.
Work to the west of Ind. 15 and CR 350N will bring a new road to that area. The area has split road jurisdiction between the county and Warsaw. Ladson suggested establishing a 30 miles per hour speed limit on Airport Road to the city's portion. Truex suggested 35 mph, and that was approved.
Ladson recommended, and the commissioners approved, NiBlock Excavating's bid of $93,832.95 for the Bridge 6 project on Barbee Lake. The other bid came from Phend & Brown for $98,179.18. The engineer's estimate was $129,595.55.
The commissioners also approved Ladson's recommendation for a change order of about $5,000 for additional piles for the Bridge 289 project on Cedar Point Road and for changing the stop signs at CR 525N and Pound Road.
Kim Nance and Wayne Luchenbill, Kosciusko Development Inc., requested the county apply for a Indiana Department of Commerce grant on their behalf to pay for repaving an industrial park on Pound Drive near CRs 100E and 200N. Estimated cost, with the rising oil prices, was $55,000 last year but as much as $67,000 as of Tuesday, Ladson said. All costs are subject to change, depending on rising oil prices.
Total length of the gravel road to be paved is 1,900 feet.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Selected A. Hattersley & Sons as the qualified provider for the courthouse renovation project. Hattersley was the only qualified provider who submitted the proper information to the county, according to county administrator Ron Robinson.
• Approved the Child Abuse Council to place blue ribbons on the courthouse trees for April and to hold a candlelight vigil April 29 at 5 p.m. on the courthouse lawn.
• Appointed Tom Groninger to the wage committee for the construction of Mentone's new town hall.
• Heard from county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell that the tax rates for the county were received Monday. Tax bills are expected to be sent out by April 26.
Commissioners present at Tuesday's meeting were Ron Truex, middle district, and Avis Gunter, southern district. Not present was Brad Jackson, northern district. The county commissioners meet at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse every other Tuesday. [[In-content Ad]]