Bridge Bids Less Than Estimated

Three of the four bids for the Bridge 94 project came in Monday under the engineer's estimate.

Bridge 94 is on Old U.S. 30 over Walnut Creek, Warsaw, near Big Lots. The engineer's estimate was $134,731.60.

After all four bids were opened, Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson recommended the county commissioners accept the lowest bid from R.L. McCoy for $116,885.40. The other three bids included Pioneer Associates, $148,037.55; Prime Co., $117,214.75; and KelCon, $129,537.40.

The Bridge 94 project could begin as early as Monday and may last 90 days, pending weather conditions.

The commissioners then opened the annual highway supplies bids for 2004. Ladson will review the bids and make a recommendation to the commissioners in approximately two weeks. The bids included road signs, aggregate, gravel, weed spray and hot mix, among other items.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved the expenditure of up to $10,000 to repair all three stairways to the county courthouse. Most of the work will not be done until spring.

• Approved to make the intersection of CRs 300N and 475E a multi-way stop.

• Approved to reduce the speed limit on CR 1350N from CR 700W to Ind. 19 to 45 miles per hour.

• Approved to reduce the speed limit on CR 350N from Ind. 13 to Ind. 5 to 35 mph.

• Approved the appointment of Fred McSherry to the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. common wage hearing.

• Heard from county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell that the tax bills will be sent out by the end of the week and will be due by Nov. 24. She said she has found many people's tax bills have dropped.

Kosciusko County commissioners are Ron Truex, Brad Jackson and Avis Gunter. Their next meeting is Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.