Council OKs study contract

REDKEY — The town is one step closer to securing a master utility plan.

Redkey Town Council approved a $90,000 contract with Choice One Engineering to conduct a master utility study, contingent upon the town receiving planning grant funds, during a special meeting Thursday.

Council held a public hearing Jan. 19 and approved a resolution to apply for an Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) planning grant.

If selected for the grant — OCRA would contribute $81,000, with Redkey paying a $9,000 match — the town will pay Choice One to look into its water, stormwater and wastewater utilities in order to identify issues and offer suggestions and potential funding sources in order to solve the problems. That includes regulations enforced by Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). (It will likely identify items such as combined sewer overflows, flooding problems or old water lines or valves.)

The last master utility plan for Redkey dates back to 2003, according to officials. Some grants through OCRA or IDEM require towns to have such a plan in place.

Civil engineering firms Choice One Engineering and Beam, Longest and Neff submitted proposals for the work. Both went through the procurement process per OCRA’s regulations, which included providing a statement of qualifications and 30-minute interviews with a five-member committee made up of local representatives. The committee scored both companies based on a range of criteria, such as the company’s understanding of the project requirements and its design approach.

Jodi Hayes of Jay County Development Corporation noted Choice One Engineering scored the highest during the process, and she asked council to approve a contract with the firm contingent upon receiving the OCRA grant.

“If we do not get the grant, you’re not out anything,” she explained, noting the contract will not be signed until after the release of funds. “This is just a little bit of formality that OCRA requires us to do.”

The grant application is due Wednesday. Hayes said it will likely take at least three months to hear back from OCRA.

Council member Chance Retter proposed the board write a letter of support for the project. Hayes agreed, noting she has received one from former council member Dottie Quakenbush, with a few others from local residents on the way. She pointed out the grant application’s upcoming deadline and that she would need the letter soon.

Council members Erik Hammers and Retter as well as clerk-treasurer Mary Eley shared positive remarks about Choice One Engineering, which operates out of Sidney, Ohio, and Loveland, Ohio.

“They’ve always done excellent work here,” said Retter.

Council approved the contract contingent upon being awarded the grant.