Fillmore Town Council approves paving project contractor

The Fillmore Town Council approved a bid to repave both Westwood Road and East Street (below) that was significantly less than what the work was estimated at. The project is anticipated for next spring.

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FILLMORE — Even with the work having to wait until at least next spring, the financial commitment is the silver lining getting Westwood Road and East Street in Fillmore repaved.

Having received five bids which were all well below the $303,192 engineering estimate, the Fillmore Town Council tapped one for $197,819.85 from DC Construction Services at its regular meeting Thursday evening. The highest bid between them as such came in at $240,274.

The approval was made contingent on review before the project’s submittal to the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The town was awarded a Community Crossings local matching grant of $227,394 to cover the project. As such, it would commit 25 percent of DC Construction’s bid at about $49,455. The match was initially estimated at about $75,800.

Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

Dave Kieser of Kieser Consulting Group, which facilitated the bidding, said that inflation and gas prices were accommodated, even while bids for projects elsewhere have been high. Regardless, he noted that each of the firms which submitted were reputable.

The project is to include repaving Westwood Road from County Road 475 East to Main Street, while East Street would be repaved from North Street to East County Road 100 North.

Giving the spring timeframe, Kieser related that contractors in general are busy with roadwork throughout the state. Nonetheless, he shared in a positive mood about “things rolling” with improving Fillmore’s roads.

In other business:

• Waiving reading them, the council adopted Resolution 2022-3 acknowledging Liberty Trailers as compliant with its outstanding tax abatements, as well as Resolution 2022-4 noting space to be built on as an economic revitalization area (ERA) within the town limit there.

Present on behalf of Liberty, Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center Executive Director Kristin Clary said the trailer builder will request a new abatement for a 25,000-square-foot structure to house a fabrication department. A public hearing on it will be held next month.

With Councilman Jerry Huff and Utilities Operator Joe Cash not in attendance, Clerk-Treasurer Bill Miles and Town Attorney Jeff Boggess joined councilmen Meredith Trusty and C.J. Huller for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Fillmore Town Council is set for Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Fillmore Town Hall.