Parks board approves $3,850 change order to reinstall bollards on Chinworth Bridal Trail; discusses signage, bridge inspection and funding

The Kosciusko County Parks and Recreation Board approved change order No. 2 — $3,850 to reinstall 11 bollards removed earlier this year — for the Chinworth Bridal Trail extension during its October meeting.

The change order, presented by John Nelson of Fayette Engineering, covers reinstalling 11 bollards “at each street on both sides and then at the end and the beginning of the trail,” Nelson said. Board members voted to approve the change order by voice vote; the board chair said the approved change order will be placed on the county commissioners’ agenda for formal approval at the commissioners’ next meeting.

Board members and staff also discussed final payments and remaining retainage for the project. Nelson said the project still shows 10% retainage, which he put at $96,023.45; he said the retainage plus the $3,850 change order will be included in next month’s final pay application for the commissioners to consider. “That plus the $3,850 will come to you next month as a final pay application for you to recommend payment by the commissioner,” Nelson said.

The group spent substantial time on trailhead signage. The board agreed on three signs: two county parks logo signs (one at each end of the completed section) and a green reflective mileage/distance sign that lists distances to the Chinworth Bridge and to downtown Warsaw. Nelson and board members said they will solicit pricing from the contractor (Niblock) and from the county highway department and report back at the next meeting. If the signage cost is within the project allocation (the group discussed using the $3,850 saved from bollards if necessary), staff will proceed; if it exceeds the project allocation, the board asked to be notified before any additional spending. Nelson said he would “get pricing” and “send out a global email” to the board with cost and installation options.

Board members also heard updates about the Chinworth Bridge itself. County staff said the county now understands it owns the historic bridge and is planning an inspection to determine structural condition and the condition of existing paint — information the board said is necessary to scope any future rehabilitation. The board discussed that environmental and stripping requirements can make full repainting expensive even if a private donor provides paint and labor: a representative who reported contact with ExxonMobil said the company could provide paint and labor if the project is moved into a different fiscal year, but staff cautioned that paint and labor are only part of the total cost when dealing with lead-era coatings and regulatory disposal requirements.

Nelson and board members said they will coordinate with county highway staff to identify who will perform any bridge inspection; one staff member noted the county already budgets for bridge inspections and that the highway department typically handles procurement. The board agreed that a bridge inspection and a clear ownership/maintenance plan should precede major investments on the bridge or trailhead property.

Separately, an invoice from Fayette Engineering dated June 30, 2025, for $4,687 was noted in the packet; staff told the board the invoice had been paid and that discussion was for the record only.

The board agreed to present the approved change order to the county commissioners and to have a board member or staff attend the commissioners’ meeting to speak to the item.

An update email and formal cost estimates on the signage and on final pay applications are expected before the board’s next monthly meeting.