April 13, 2023 at 4:44 p.m.
County awarded grant funds
County awarded grant funds
By Bailey Cline-
Bridge work and highway department fuel tank removal are on the horizon for the county.
Indiana Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that Jay County will be awarded $46,299.75 from its Community Crossings grant program. The county will use those funds toward new asphalt decks on bridges on county road 200 South between Boundary Pike and U.S. 27 and Blaine Pike between county roads 150 and 250 South.
Choice One Engineering’s estimate for the bridge work comes to $61,733. With the Community Crossings grant, the county only needs to contribute about 25% of the cost, or a little more than $15,400. That leaves a chunk of funding set aside — the county received $400,000 this year in the local road and street fund — for the county to invest in decommissioning and removing Jay County Highway Department’s fuel tanks.
Jay County Commissioners awarded the $373,000 project to Gasoline Equipment in March for the removal of the fuel tanks. (Procurement company Sourcewell obtained quotes for the project and provided the most affordable option. The county reached out to StationServ and R.W. Mercer Company for proposals but had not heard back.)
The current tanks located underground date back to 1986. Highway department superintendent Eric Butcher noted that Indiana Department of Environmental Management cited the county last year for minor violations.
“It’s long overdue,” said Butcher, also referencing the monitoring system attached to the tanks. “It’s a dinosaur also, everything’s just dated.”
During the cold weather in December, Butcher explained, the pumps were also not priming well.
Plans are to install new above-ground fuel tanks in the fenced portion of the highway department’s property on county road 200 North. A new monitoring system will be installed as well.
The timeline puts fuel tank removal several months from now, depending on the company’s schedule.
As for the bridge work, the county will need to seek bids and award a contract for the project slated for sometime this year.
Commissioners will likely discuss the topic at their next meeting April 24.
Indiana Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that Jay County will be awarded $46,299.75 from its Community Crossings grant program. The county will use those funds toward new asphalt decks on bridges on county road 200 South between Boundary Pike and U.S. 27 and Blaine Pike between county roads 150 and 250 South.
Choice One Engineering’s estimate for the bridge work comes to $61,733. With the Community Crossings grant, the county only needs to contribute about 25% of the cost, or a little more than $15,400. That leaves a chunk of funding set aside — the county received $400,000 this year in the local road and street fund — for the county to invest in decommissioning and removing Jay County Highway Department’s fuel tanks.
Jay County Commissioners awarded the $373,000 project to Gasoline Equipment in March for the removal of the fuel tanks. (Procurement company Sourcewell obtained quotes for the project and provided the most affordable option. The county reached out to StationServ and R.W. Mercer Company for proposals but had not heard back.)
The current tanks located underground date back to 1986. Highway department superintendent Eric Butcher noted that Indiana Department of Environmental Management cited the county last year for minor violations.
“It’s long overdue,” said Butcher, also referencing the monitoring system attached to the tanks. “It’s a dinosaur also, everything’s just dated.”
During the cold weather in December, Butcher explained, the pumps were also not priming well.
Plans are to install new above-ground fuel tanks in the fenced portion of the highway department’s property on county road 200 North. A new monitoring system will be installed as well.
The timeline puts fuel tank removal several months from now, depending on the company’s schedule.
As for the bridge work, the county will need to seek bids and award a contract for the project slated for sometime this year.
Commissioners will likely discuss the topic at their next meeting April 24.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD