Bainbridge eyes grant for paving

Bainbridge Town Council members Richard Cope, Bonnie Osborn and Naomi Barker agreed to move forward in applying for an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) grant to pave Washington Street from U.S. 36 to Oak Street during Wednesday nights' meeting.

Brian Pohlar, with engineers Hannum, Wagle & Cline, presented the council with updated numbers to complete the project which will not begin until 2012.

"If oil goes up I don't know what it will do to prices. When we first started these project materials was $55-60 per ton. Right now they are $95 per ton," Pohlar told the board.

The proposed project could require up to a $600,000 match if the entire project is completed. Pohlar told the board they could pull out of the grant anytime up to the start of construction.

It would cost about $374,000 out of pocket to start. And, this could be spread out with only $213,000 for the initial startup and an additional $161,000 at the time the actual work bid is given.

"We've built in a 25 percent contingency so we won't have to ask for more money from INDOT and that includes an eight percent inflation rate for four years," added Pohlar.

Town Clerk Jason Hartman told the board his only concern was that with this project, no other major repair work could go on until 2012.

"We've talked about our roads and we don't have any roads in any total disrepair," Hartman stated. "There will also be some repairs that still have to be done and there won't be much left for anything but cold patch."

Board President Richard Cope told the group they needed to go forward with the project. "If we don't do it now, we won't do it," he said

Pohlar told the board that it has been three years since there has been a call for applications for the grants.

"Let's go forward with the application process. We can try it and see what happens," added Cope.

A long discussion took place around another grant the board has been considering to purchase a chipper for the town. They will have to enact a burn ordinance in order to get the grant of $22,000. The match will be $11,000 for the town.

Board member Naomi Barker noted she was not in favor of getting rid of people's rights.

The ordinance would have to meet IDEM criteria and would restrict things like burning leaves or having a wiener roast with a fire.

The board tabled making an ordinance until more research could be done to see what the restrictions would be and to look at other cities ordinances.

The Bainbridge Town Council regularly meets on the second Wednesday of the month.