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Commissioners approve mill-and-overlay contract, several road project amendments and federal-aid appropriations
Summary
Johnson County commissioners approved a mill-and-overlay contract with a 3% contingency, signed amendments to inspection and design contracts for local projects, approved a reimbursement agreement with Duke Energy pending legal review, and authorized counsel to seek additional appropriations for three federally funded safety projects.
Johnson County commissioners on Sept. 8 approved a contract award for the county's 2025 local mill-and-overlay project, accepted amendments to inspection and design contracts on two recent road projects, approved an agreement with Duke Energy Indiana pending legal review, and authorized staff to seek additional appropriations for three federal-aid safety projects.
The board approved Howard Companies as the lowest responsive bidder for the 2025 local mill-and-overlay contract and added a 3% contingency to expedite field decisions if issues arise during construction. Daniel Johnston, highway engineer, told commissioners the contingency is to "expedite field decisions if they come up during the project." The motion to approve the contract and contingency passed.
The board also approved Amendment No. 1 to the inspection contract for the County Road 144 and Morgantown Road roundabout with Crossroad Engineers to cover additional tasks encountered during construction and project closeout. Commissioners approved Amendment No. 2 to the Clark School Road design contract with GAI Consultants, which includes additional right-of-way services identified during design. Johnston said the project is in design and that the letting for construction is planned for state fiscal year 2026 (fiscal year 27).
County staff presented an agreement with Duke Energy Indiana so Johnson County can reimburse Duke for preliminary and detailed engineering costs for utility relocation along the Smith Valley Road corridor; commissioners approved execution pending legal review. Highway supervisor Luke Masten said Duke's recent pole relocations should not impede bridge construction and that Duke coordinated the work to allow de-energizing or removing lines if needed.
The board also granted permission for county counsel to request six additional appropriations at the next meeting for three safety projects funded through federal aid; those appropriations would fund the design phase. "These are federal aid projects that we received funding for previously," Masten said when asking for permission to approach counsel. The motion to authorize the appropriations request passed.
Background: Commissioners handled several highway items in a single agenda block, including contract awards and design amendments, to keep multiple road projects moving toward construction. Several items were approved "pending legal," indicating counsels' final review is required before full execution.
Commissioners did not provide detailed dollar amounts for the Howard Companies award or the design amendments during the meeting; those amounts were not specified in the transcript.
