The Kosciusko County Parks Board voted to recommend awarding the Chinworth Trail Extension Phase 1 contract to Niblock and will forward that recommendation to the County Commissioners for final approval.

Triad, the engineering/inspection consultant on the project, told the board it had reviewed all bids and recommended Niblock as the lowest responsive bidder. "Triad has gone through all the bids, reviewed them, and found nothing wrong with Nimblox. They were the lowest bidder ... so we've issued a letter of recommendation," a Triad representative said.

The recommendation matters because the bid comes in higher than the parks board's current allocation. Board members said they would recommend the award to the commissioners and leave funding decisions about the difference to the commissioners. "We need to make the recommendation to commissioners anyway," a board member said, "...the commissioners will decide if they want to fund that difference."

Board members questioned schedule, quality control and payment terms. A Triad representative said quality-control oversight is part of Triad's scope and described the expected construction timeframe: after speaking with Niblock, Triad was told the contractor anticipates the project will take "3 to 4 months," with possible delays during the April-May rainy season and while asphalt plants are closed for winter. The engineering schedule in the contract sets 205 days as the expected completion window; Triad said the engineer chose that timeline based on typical project duration and built in extra days for weather events.

On penalties and billing, the board discussed liquidated damages and progress payments. A board member recalled seeing a $500-per-day figure in the documents and was told that liquidated damages would apply only if the county can show it was damaged. The board was told contractors generally submit monthly pay applications and final retainage is released after the work is accepted; Triad will review pay applications and recommend payments to the county.

The parks board voted by voice to recommend the award. "I'll make a motion that we make this recommendation for this vendor to the commissioners," an unnamed board member said; another board member seconded. The chair called for the vote and members answered "aye," and the recommendation was approved.

Next steps identified in the meeting included sending the recommendation and bid documents to the county commissioners and to the county attorney for contract review. Board members noted the recommendation will be presented at the commissioners' meeting scheduled for Dec. 3 at 9 a.m.; Rob, a staff member, said he would attend and lead the presentation.

The parks board emphasized that approving a recommendation to award the contract is not the same as approving the final contract: the commissioners and the county attorney will complete the contract review and decide whether to provide additional funding.

For now, the board has forwarded a single formal recommendation and expects Triad to continue contract oversight and payment review if the commissioners approve the award.