Cloverdale council accepts water main bid

CLOVERDALE — Part of an extensive project to address such within the town, water system improvements at the interchange of Interstate 70 and U.S. 231 are now waiting in the wings for Cloverdale.

Speaking to the Cloverdale Town Council at its regular meeting last week, Eric Smith of HWC Engineering briefed members on a water main being extended from Tower Road to a relocated main north of the interstate.

Specifically, the 10-inch main is to go from Tower Road and cross the interstate before connecting to the relocated main. This is coinciding with a later road project in the Beagle Club Road area, but also to follow up on the Indiana Department of Transportation’s moving water mains to widen U.S. 231 at County Road 800 South.

As to three bids received before the meeting, the lowest was $156,748.80 from JAMRR Excavating, the second was $220,809 from Feutz Contractors and the third at $322,445.

Smith noted that the project was intended to be directionally drilled to reduce disruption to the pavement, but the option for open-cut construction was given. With JAMRR and Feutz opting for the latter, Smith noted several items missing or incomplete in JAMRR’s bid submission.

“In our opinion, it could deem the bid non-responsive,” Smith said to that.

With concurrence and official review from Town Attorney Richard Shagley, the council accepted Feutz’ as the lowest responsible bid. Town Manager Jason Hartman later provided that the project’s scope could have been unexpected by JAMRR.

Being “very frank,” Council Vice President Brice Howell brought up a recent change order request to extend a retaining wall at Bennington Way. With Feutz having undertaken this project, he criticized that this work was not considered in the original plans.

“Are we confident that, if we agree to the second-highest bidder, are we not gonna have another $17,500 change request?” Howell said.

“I wouldn’t anticipate there being any change orders,” Smith responded, adding that work is based on unit prices. He considered this a simple project, as the main is being installed ahead of road reconstruction. Even so, he said, there are always opportunities for unforeseen conditions.

The project in question is to be funded through the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI).

In other business:

• The council addressed three approvals regarding vehicles used by the Cloverdale Police Department.

As to an audit by the state, the council accepted a report from Andy Mohr Ford’s Kent Goldman acknowledging a conflict of interest. Goldman is a reserve officer, but has worked with the town through Andy Mohr on purchasing police vehicles. It was stipulated that Goldman does not receive financial compensation for the sales.

As to vehicles themselves, the council approved a $18,949.30 quote from Andy Mohr for a 2015 Ford Taurus police interceptor, to be used by the second school resource officer at South Putnam Schools. Both South Putnam and Cloverdale Schools have an agreement with the town to provide SROs.

Meanwhile, the council approved declaring a 2009 Taurus as surplus property. As such with it being advertised, bids for the vehicle will be taken until 5 p.m. on Oct. 10, the day of the council’s next regular meeting.

• The council approved a $40,000 quote from JAMRR to extend a sewer main on North Main Street, in which development is planned on its west side.

Hartman noted that the redevelopment commission paid for the engineering last year apart from easement acquisition. He added that site plans have been sent to the state. Meanwhile, the commission has committed $2,000 toward this project.

• With Hartman providing that the town’s ADA transition plan has to be actively updated for Community Crossings funding, the council approved a contract with HWC to do so. The plan was last updated in 2020.

• With a favorable recommendation recently from the town’s plan commission, the council approved moving forward with its portion of the county’s new comprehensive plan. Hartman said the next step will be a potentially yearlong implementation of a new zoning ordinance.

The town opted into the county plan last December, in which it will have its own sub-area requirements but maintain its pertinent boards.

• The council approved an agreement to engage with Bose McKinney & Evans as bond counsel for a project related to Lieber State Recreation Area. Specifically, the town is to take on Lieber’s sewage as part of a wider water improvement initiative.

Town Attorney Richard Shagley provided that the firm’s expense will be hourly, rather than a flat rate. In motioning to accept the contract, Council Vice President Brice Howell stipulated that a cap should be set at $50,000.

Smith related that the project’s design is complete and that permits are now in process. He added that the project itself should be covered by funding from the state. Closing on the finances is anticipated for November.

• The council approved for Clerk-Treasurer Kelly Maners to receive a five-percent pay increase for 2024. As such, her salary will go from $44,290 to $46,504.50.

In the same vein, the council also approved for its members to not receive a raise. Currently, they are paid $5,304 annually.

• To coincide with upcoming updates to the utility office, the council approved a quote of $9,069.98 for new office furniture. It was noted that $10,000 was budgeted last year for the furniture.

With Maners and Councilman Larry Fidler absent, Town Marshal Adam Hull joined Hartman, Shagley and the rest of the council for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale Town Council is set for Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the town hall.