First-time paving contractor gets city resurfacing contract

There will be new kids on the block when the 2023 City of Greencastle repaving project begins.

DC Construction Services Inc., Pendleton, a contractor working with the city for the first time, was awarded the half-million-dollar contract for resurfacing by the Greencastle Board of Public Works and Safety in a special meeting Thursday at City Hall.

DC Construction Services was the lower of two bidders on the project at $498,743, selected over Milestone Contractors at $597,635 on a motion by Thom Morris and a second from Trudy Selvia.

“They’re new to us but apparently they have done work for some neighboring communities,” Mayor Bill Dory noted.

Although Milestone has done numerous local projects over the years, the city repaving project will be a first for the DC group, which was vetted by City Engineer Jeff Mahan. He found DC has done work in locales such as Avon and Speedway to excellent reviews.

Base bids by DC and Milestone were $519,823 and $642,071, respectively. However, bids on trail work were removed from the contract to get the cost below $500,000. The People Pathways trail work -- along the Big Walnut and Zinc Mill Road sections -- is now expected to be done in-house, Dory said.

Streets to be repaved in the 2023 project list and paid for with local Motor Vehicle Highway dollars are:

-- Elm Street, Locust to Maple, four blocks, 1,478 feet.

-- Illinois Street, Ohio to Howard, one block, 360 feet.

-- Jefferson Street, Washington to Columbia, two blocks, 538 feet.

-- Longcastle Drive, Indianapolis Road to the north end, one block, 895 feet. Work includes fixing the storm drain.

-- Kirkwood Drive, between Evensview and Albin Pond Road, one block, 961 feet.

-- Olive Street, College Avenue to Locust Street, one block, 527 feet. There will be no repaving of parking lanes.

-- Madison Street, between Columbia and Liberty, one block, 215 feet. Overlay work only with curbs to be done in a future project. Storm sewers and sidewalks are also a concern.

-- Arlington Street, Shadowlawn Avenue to Tacoma Drive, three blocks, 1,175 feet as a follow-up after water and gas line work.

Also attending the brief special meeting were City Attorney Laurie Hardwick and Clerk-Treasurer Lynda Dunbar.

The next regular session of the Board of Works is set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20 at City Hall.