Fees for street project inch up (08/04/06)

The cost of engineering work for a major street reconstruction project on Portland's southeast side is going up slightly.

Members of the Portland Board of Works voted Thursday to pay engineering firm Bonar Group an additional $7,400 for the company's work on the $4.6 million Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project. This takes the total cost for engineering work up to about $386,878.

A majority of the project will be funded by a $3.6 million state grant awarded to the city in 1998.

Bonar Group's fees were increased because some design changes had to be made along a railroad crossing on South Wayne Street, and the entrance to Hudson Family Park on the east side of Wayne Street, said Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland.

When the project was designed, Hudson Family Park did not exist. The original design was done under former Mayor Maxine Lewis.

Lewis' term ran from 1993 to 2000. Hosier said city officials first decided to do the project sometime during Lewis' term. Construction has not yet begun.

Board member Bob McCreery asked where work on the project currently stands.

Hosier said an agreement for the acquisition of one of two private rights-of-way still needed for the project is expected to be reached today.

"Thank goodness," McCreery said.

"There is still a bright light at the end of the tunnel," Hosier assured board members.

Bid letting for construction could start late this fall or early this winter, Hosier said this morning.

The city was awarded a $3,680,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation for the project. The city will be responsible for costs over the grant total.

The grant funds earmarked for the project were placed into an account, Hosier said. City officials will have to notify INDOT when using any of the grant funds, he said.

The Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project will include the separation of storm and sanitary sewers, replacement of the water mains, construction of new sidewalks, and new gutters and driveway approaches. Street lights also are expected to be installed.

Also Thursday, board members voted to purchase a new pick-up truck for the Portland Fire Department for use as a grass fire rig.

The 2007 Chevrolet Silverado will be purchased from Ken Kunkle Chevrolet, Portland, at a price of $21,910.

Portland Fire Chief Mike Thomas said the department currently has a 1977 Dodge truck which is costly to repair. The steering and brakes are in bad shape, he said.

The current truck is owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources division of forestry. The city was given a DNR grant to purchase the truck about 10 years ago. The vehicle must be returned to the DNR, Thomas said.

The fire department uses the truck to go to grass and field fires, and to haul the fire safety trailer used for educating area youngsters on the danger of fire.

Moser Motors, Inc. of Portland also submitted a quote of $21,950.

In other business, the board voted to hire TJ's Concrete Work LLC of Portland to pave a 79 x 46-foot stone area behind the Portland Fire Station at a cost of $9,630.

R. Davis and Sons, Inc. Construction/Excavating of rural Portland also submitted a quote of $12,799.

Thomas said he would like the area paved because it would make six to 10 additional parking spaces for meetings held at the station, plus it would prevent the garbage truck from flipping rocks into the grass when collecting trash.

The paved area also could be used to land helicopters during training exercises, he said.[[In-content Ad]]