County opens bridge bids

The Jay County Commissioners opened six bids Monday for a bridge repair south of Redkey, with the lowest coming in about $40,000 below the engineer's estimate.

All but one bid came in under the estimate of $324,325.61 for repairs to Bridge 270, southwest of Redkey just off Ind. 67 on county road 700 South. The lowest bid of $287,808.50 was offered by Hoosier Pride Excavating, Inc., Springport, Ind.

The commissioners tabled the bids for review by the county engineer. The contract will likely be awarded on Monday.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Awarded a contract for general reassessment work to Appraisal Research after its bids of $299,550 was reviewed by Jay County Assessor Terry LeMaster.

•Appointed Tim Kesler, Dunkirk, to the Jay County Regional Sewer District Board upon the recommendation of board president Gerald Kirby.

•Opted to join an economic development district at a cost of $6,500 per year for three years. The payments will be made from Economic Development Income Tax money.

Being part of the district will provide the county with more potential opportunities to secure grants as well as other benefits.

•Decided to stick with current dust map procedures. The county pays half the cost with benefiting residents shouldering the other half.

•Signed a utility easement for with Verizon at 281 South 850 West.

•Chose Young Builders, Redkey, to complete roof repairs and re-shingle the Portland Jay County Emergency Medical Services building at a cost of $8,380.

•Received monthly figures for the National Association of Counties drug prescription plan. During February, 632 residents took advantage of the program, saving $21,675.33 total on prescription drugs, averaging about 25 percent off each filling.[[In-content Ad]]