City officials were a little surprised Friday when only one bid was received for a traffic signal modernization project at the intersection of Center and Buffalo streets.
City attorney Scott Reust opened the bid at the Warsaw Board of Works and Public Safety meeting Friday. It was from Michiana Contracting for a base bid of $358,684.50.
George Clemens, Board of Works member, said he noticed the project was advertised twice and asked Street Superintendent Jeff Beeler if he was surprised the project only received one bid. Beeler nodded he was.
Board member Jeff Grose asked Beeler to update the board on what the project is.
“This is Center Street and Buffalo Street signal modernization to put new poles, wiring and controlling units in. We’re in the process of doing all the signals downtown because we’re finding they’re from the ’70s or older, depending on which part of the whole system we’re looking at. Also, the downtown lighting is tied into that as well,” he said.
The advertisement for bids said the work to be performed included “the installation of new traffic signal equipment and supports, removal of existing traffic signal equipment and supports, removal and installation of concrete sidewalk, concrete curb and gutter, concrete curb ramps and other miscellaneous items including all labor, services, materials, insurance and equipment to complete the work.”
The substantial completion date for the project is slated for Sept. 15.
Beeler said three bids were expected, but with only one it will have to be taken under advisement and “make sure everything’s there.”
Reust agreed the bid needed to be taken under advisement.
“I look at the engineer’s original estimate for the base bid, which was $323,000 and some change, so it looks like it’s $35,000 above the engineer’s estimate,” Reust said.
The board approved a motion to take the bid under advisement.
In other business, the Board of Works approved:
• For the Warsaw Police Department to pursue sealed quotes from three dealerships for the purchase of four Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles. The quotes must be received by the clerk-treasurer by 10:30 a.m. June 21, when they will be opened.
• Closing Center Street between Lake and Buffalo streets from 2 to 10 p.m. Sept. 14 for an event hosted by One Warsaw - Celebrating Us, a newly formed nonprofit organization. It would follow the Farmers Market.
“We’re looking to do a festival type of event downtown for the community,” said attorney Travis McConnell.
The festival would include the city hall parking lot, the portion of Center Street and the county courthouse lawn. The county already approved use of the lawn.
McConnell said there will be food trucks, bounce houses and performers, and it would be a family-friendly event.
“The theme will be inclusion and acceptance of all people,” he said.
• A pay application on behalf of the Redevelopment Authority for HRP Construction for $520,074.27 for construction concerning the Airport Industrial Park sewer project.
• A pay application for VS Engineering Inc. for construction engineering of the East Market Street road project for $19,508.19.
• An agreement between the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory and First Due Size-Up for $3,408.50 from June 1 to Dec. 31. The WWFT board approved the agreement at its May 7 meeting. The computer-based, internet-based program provides the ability to create pre-incident plans by using building data on structures in a response area. Also included are dispatch notifications, routing (GPS) and layer mapping.
• For the Warsaw Police Department to enter into an agreement with Central Square for the purchase of 13 Freedom Application licenses for $5,200 and a yearly maintenance fee of $1,040. WPD already has 27 licenses. The licenses will be downloaded to the new police-assigned mobile devices.
