Phend & Brown gets two road projects
May 29, 2019 at 12:12 a.m.
By David [email protected]
Both projects are being half funded by state Community Crossings grants. The bids were opened at the commissioners’ May 14 meeting.
The CR 800W resurfacing project is approximately 6.5 miles from Ind. 19 south to U.S. 30. Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden said the bid of $1,186,352.40 from Phend & Brown, Milford, was the lowest responsive and responsible bid.
The two other bidders on both projects were Niblock Excavating Inc. and E & B Paving Inc.
The CR 1000W project is about 3 miles from CRs 700S to 1000S. Phend & Brown’s bid, which was again the lowest of the three bids, was for $420,348.76.
Commissioner Cary Groninger asked what the timeline was for the projects. Tilden said the contracts had to be sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation, but the contract documents state the projects should begin around Aug. 1 and have to be completed by Nov. 15.
Tilden then presented the commissioners with some right-of-way waiver evaluations. “We need some permanent and temporary rights-of-way for two projects,” he said. There are four parcels for the bridge 98 project on CR 800W, and two parcels for culvert 511 on Bruner Road, south of Ind. 25 by Palestine. A larger structure with more capacity is replacing three smaller culverts on Bruner Road.
“Basically, this gives the appraisers that appraise these, which is USI Consultants under our contract with them, permission to negotiate for the appraised price,” Tilden told the commissioners.
He said the cost for all six parcels was under $10,000.
The last item of business Tilden presented was a reduction of the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph on CR 800N from CR 500E to Syracuse-Webster Road. He said there are about 21 driveways along that stretch of road.
Commissioner Brad Jackson requested Sheriff Kyle P. Dukes step up enforcement along that stretch of road for “a little while” to send a message. Dukes said he would make sure that happens.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved a change order from Clint Davis Construction for the county coroner’s building on West Lake Street. The change order is to install approximately 1,030 square feet of exterior wall insulation and about 912 square feet of ceiling insulation as well as dry wall. The total of the change order is $11,537.65. County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented the change order.
• Approved the painting, carpeting and new furniture for Area Plan Commission office space. The total cost for the furniture from WorkSpace Solutions with installation included is $21,249.03. McSherry said that includes about $5,500 in added storage.
• Approved costs associated with moving Court Appointed Special Advocate from three conference rooms on the second floor of the Justice Building to the back area of the building, which is more secure. The move is necessary because of the coming of the new court, McSherry said.
“The space is going to be needed to be used for meeting rooms,” McSherry said.
She said the proposal is to use panel walls as opposed to building offices.
The cost from WorkSpace Solutions is $10,518.38, and includes an office, a conference room and a storage room.
• Approved the 2020 INDOT application for the Kosciusko Area Bus Service capital and operating funds grant. KABS Transportation General Manager Amanda Landis said the grant stayed the same as previous years.
“This allows us the funds next year to operate and then replace a 2003 van that we still have in the fleet and a 2002 bus that we still have in the fleet,” she said.
• Approved a contract between the auditor’s office and SRI, the company the county contracts with for its yearly tax sales. The contract is similar to past years except SRI’s fee has went up from $75 per parcel to $100 per parcel. Auditor Michelle Puckett said SRI hasn’t increased its fee in a number of years.
• Approved a contract agreement between CSI and the county recorder’s office for redaction software. The software redacts Social Security numbers and other personal information from documents that could be accessed by the public. Funds from a fee built into each document requested from the recorder’s office will pay for the contract.
• Heard from county attorney Chad Miner that he will go before the Warsaw City Council June 3 and 17 requesting vacation of the north/south and east/west alleyways at the Kosciusko County Justice Building parking lot.
He also said the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Sewer District meeting with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is from 6 to 9 p.m. June 26 at the North Webster Community Center. The meeting is being held by IDEM and not the county for public input on the sewer district.
• Heard the next meeting is at 9 a.m. June 11.
Both projects are being half funded by state Community Crossings grants. The bids were opened at the commissioners’ May 14 meeting.
The CR 800W resurfacing project is approximately 6.5 miles from Ind. 19 south to U.S. 30. Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden said the bid of $1,186,352.40 from Phend & Brown, Milford, was the lowest responsive and responsible bid.
The two other bidders on both projects were Niblock Excavating Inc. and E & B Paving Inc.
The CR 1000W project is about 3 miles from CRs 700S to 1000S. Phend & Brown’s bid, which was again the lowest of the three bids, was for $420,348.76.
Commissioner Cary Groninger asked what the timeline was for the projects. Tilden said the contracts had to be sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation, but the contract documents state the projects should begin around Aug. 1 and have to be completed by Nov. 15.
Tilden then presented the commissioners with some right-of-way waiver evaluations. “We need some permanent and temporary rights-of-way for two projects,” he said. There are four parcels for the bridge 98 project on CR 800W, and two parcels for culvert 511 on Bruner Road, south of Ind. 25 by Palestine. A larger structure with more capacity is replacing three smaller culverts on Bruner Road.
“Basically, this gives the appraisers that appraise these, which is USI Consultants under our contract with them, permission to negotiate for the appraised price,” Tilden told the commissioners.
He said the cost for all six parcels was under $10,000.
The last item of business Tilden presented was a reduction of the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph on CR 800N from CR 500E to Syracuse-Webster Road. He said there are about 21 driveways along that stretch of road.
Commissioner Brad Jackson requested Sheriff Kyle P. Dukes step up enforcement along that stretch of road for “a little while” to send a message. Dukes said he would make sure that happens.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved a change order from Clint Davis Construction for the county coroner’s building on West Lake Street. The change order is to install approximately 1,030 square feet of exterior wall insulation and about 912 square feet of ceiling insulation as well as dry wall. The total of the change order is $11,537.65. County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented the change order.
• Approved the painting, carpeting and new furniture for Area Plan Commission office space. The total cost for the furniture from WorkSpace Solutions with installation included is $21,249.03. McSherry said that includes about $5,500 in added storage.
• Approved costs associated with moving Court Appointed Special Advocate from three conference rooms on the second floor of the Justice Building to the back area of the building, which is more secure. The move is necessary because of the coming of the new court, McSherry said.
“The space is going to be needed to be used for meeting rooms,” McSherry said.
She said the proposal is to use panel walls as opposed to building offices.
The cost from WorkSpace Solutions is $10,518.38, and includes an office, a conference room and a storage room.
• Approved the 2020 INDOT application for the Kosciusko Area Bus Service capital and operating funds grant. KABS Transportation General Manager Amanda Landis said the grant stayed the same as previous years.
“This allows us the funds next year to operate and then replace a 2003 van that we still have in the fleet and a 2002 bus that we still have in the fleet,” she said.
• Approved a contract between the auditor’s office and SRI, the company the county contracts with for its yearly tax sales. The contract is similar to past years except SRI’s fee has went up from $75 per parcel to $100 per parcel. Auditor Michelle Puckett said SRI hasn’t increased its fee in a number of years.
• Approved a contract agreement between CSI and the county recorder’s office for redaction software. The software redacts Social Security numbers and other personal information from documents that could be accessed by the public. Funds from a fee built into each document requested from the recorder’s office will pay for the contract.
• Heard from county attorney Chad Miner that he will go before the Warsaw City Council June 3 and 17 requesting vacation of the north/south and east/west alleyways at the Kosciusko County Justice Building parking lot.
He also said the Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Sewer District meeting with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management is from 6 to 9 p.m. June 26 at the North Webster Community Center. The meeting is being held by IDEM and not the county for public input on the sewer district.
• Heard the next meeting is at 9 a.m. June 11.
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