To be fair to the bidders, the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday approved the second lowest bid for the bridge 267 replacement project.

The bridge is on the east side of Lake Wawasee near Enchanted Hills.

The bids were opened by the commissioners at their last meeting. Bids included: Beer & Slabaugh, $246,681.50; Pioneer Associates, $272,471.69; and R.L. McCoy Inc., $259,598.40.

Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said the engineer's estimate for the project was $234,000.

Though Beer & Slabaugh had the lowest bid, Ladson said, the company couldn't start the bridge replacement until mid-May. McCoy, the second lowest bidder, could start right away. A third option, Ladson offered, was for all the bids to be withdrawn and ask for new bids in the spring.

"Can the bridge wait until spring?" Ladson said. "I think it can." But, he said, it would be up to the commissioners, and there would be less traffic in the fall.

Commissioner attorney Mike Miner said if they waited until spring, he suggested they rebid it.

Ladson said it was clear when they were seeking bids that they were looking for a fall start date.

The commissioners approved McCoy's bid.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved county treasurer Stephanie Esenwein to advertise for bids for the county's "sweeping account" for two years.

This is the last year for the sweeping account with Lake City Bank. A sweeping account is a cash management system for two years that is bid on by local banks. The account is separate from the investments. Lake City Bank won the bid two years ago. The county made $900,000 in interest from the account in 1999.

Bid proposals are due by Nov. 3.

• Bill Holder, county GIS administrator, and Dick Kemper, county surveyor, told the commissioners they want to update the aerial photos of the county in March 2002.

• Helen Hoy, area resident, submitted a written proposal for a land vacation request ordinance. The ordinance would require notification of residents within 500 feet of any area petitioned to be vacated.

Her proposal also would include the notification of the fire department, EMS, the highway department, municipalities and school systems.

County commissioner Brad Jackson said they already do all she requested except for the 500-foot notice. The proposal will be reviewed.

• Approved repealing two stop signs at railroad crossings at CRs 250N and 350N, east of Ind. 15. The railroad crossings have lights and gates installed, but the stop signs were never repealed.

• Approved the highway department's purchase of a new smaller truck for various uses from G.B. Ford, Nappanee, for $46,538.

• Denied a request by James and Loretta Hurd to vacate approximately 250 feet of Quail Road, southwest of Palestine Lake, in Seward Township.

• Signed the zoning ordinance amendment, which will take effect Jan. 1.

• Approved and signed an agreement with Weigand Construction for an escrow account with Star Financial Bank, Fort Wayne.

• County administrator Ron Robinson said Monday's storm shut down most of the computers in the courthouse. He said they are being worked on.

If people call in to the courthouse, he said, they can get to the switchboard, but maybe not to some of the offices.

• County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell told the commissioners the tax sale is rescheduled to Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. at the courthouse.

County commissioners are president Brad Jackson, Avis Gunter and Eddie Creighton. [[In-content Ad]]