July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Bid date set


The ground is good to go and the county is ready to accept bids for construction of the Jay County Jail expansion.

Jeff Badders of SchenkelShultz told the Jay County Commissioners this morning that environmental work on the expansion site at the corner of Ship and Main streets was "all good" and set tentative dates to bid the construction, which is estimated to cost around $6.5 million.

The target date for submittal of bids will be June 8, with plans to be available to contractors around May 14. Badders plans to hold a pre-bid conference May 27 to handle any questions potential bidders may have.

Badders went through a few requirements with the commissioners, including two separate bonds that bidders must be able to post if they win the project.

Contractors will have to field a 5 percent bid bond, which Badders called "pretty standard."

That bond would help the commissioners recoup money if the winning bidder is unable to handle the job and the county would need to move on to another firm.

The contract will also include a 110 percent bond that would cover performance, labor and materials. While usually 100 percent of the construction cost, Badders said he bumped it up to 110 percent to be safe, since contractors are so hungry for work.

"We're probably more at risk with the low bidder right now," he said.

Since companies are offering cutthroat rates, Badders said the additional money would help protect the county in the event of mistakes made by potentially less-experienced contractors who may win the project by severely undercutting the competition.

Once the bids are received, the county will have to secure public financing to cover the total $10.25 million expansion.

"We'll hold the bids for 90 days," Badders said. "That will give you time to go out and get your bonds."

The commissioners told Badders that the dates looked good at first glance, and county auditor Nancy Culy will take care of necessary advertisements.

"Let's get this show on the road," said commissioner Milo Miller Jr.

In other business this morning, the commissioners:

•Looked at some suggestions for increasing confined feeding oversight presented by rural Portland resident Carter Leonard. Leonard advocated increasing testing and inspections on smaller-end operations to try to curb pollution to the county's waterways from animal waste.

The commissioners reviewed and discussed the suggestions with Leonard, but took no official action.

•Spoke with courthouse superintendent Roger McBride, who showed the commissioners photos of the stage floor in the auditorium. The floor was damaged with scuffs and dents from dancers during a Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday.

•Spoke with Sheriff Ray Newton, who said his department submitted a request for grant funding for new 911 call center equipment as discussed in an April meeting.[[In-content Ad]]
PORTLAND WEATHER

Events

November

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.

250 X 250 AD