Wayne County approves series of public-works contracts, applies for MDOT bridge grants

The Wayne County Commission approved a package of public-works contracts and authorized a grant application to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) local bridge program, county staff said at the commissionmeeting.

Joseph Farcher, assistant division director with Facilities Management, described a countywide purchase order with W W Grandeur Inc. to supply tools and equipment for repairs across county facilities. He said MSC would serve as an additional supplier. "The contract that we're looking at is a countywide contract for purchase of tools, supplies, for repairs throughout various county facilities," Farcher said.

The commission also extended a fuel contract with Waterfront Petroleum Terminal Company to continue supplying gasoline and diesel to Wayne County locations, county staff said. No vendor representatives attended that item and commissioners asked no substantive follow-up questions on the fuel contract during discussion.

On transportation projects, Sammy Kaldi, director of engineering and highway engineer, briefed the commission on a county application to MDOT's Local Bridge Program for replacement funds for Northville Road over the Middle Rouge River and Inkster Road over E. Hines Drive. Kaldi said Wayne County is proposing a 27% local match for the listed projects and that the county regularly reapplies when projects remain under design. "One criteria is the more you contribute, the better chance you can get a grant," Kaldi said. He said the application deadline had been met and that MDOT typically announces awards around October.

Kaldi provided a timeline update for the Northville Road (Baseline) bridge: design is complete, a prior railroad delay has been resolved, and the remaining outstanding relocation is AT&T fiber optics. If funding and utility relocations proceed as planned, county staff said they expect to advertise the project midyear and begin construction in January of the following year to avoid major winter detours.

The commission approved two retroactive amendments to contracts for construction engineering services: one with Orchard Hills and McLemont for the Southfield Road bridge over Ecorse Creek (cities of Ecorse and Lincoln Park) and one with Baker & Associates for Pelham Road from Ecorse Road to Van Born Road (cities of Taylor and Allen Park). County staff said the amendments reflect additional inspection time and fabrication work discovered during construction and that these projects are MDOT-funded, which constrained schedule and payment timelines.

For the Allen Road grade-separation project in the city of Woodhaven, staff outlined a facility adjustment and reimbursement agreement with Buckeye Pipeline Company to relocate five pipelines affected by the separation. County staff said Buckeye's estimate for its relocation work is about $2,948,000. The work is linked to railroad right-of-way constraints; staff said pipelines running along the railroad right-of-way require relocation or modification to meet railroad and bridge standards.

All items were taken together near the end of the meeting and approved after a motion to approve the agenda and related items. The clerk reported, "Motion carried." The transcript does not record a full roll-call vote for each individual item.

Why this matters: the purchases, contract amendments and pipeline reimbursements will affect ongoing maintenance and several bridge projects across Wayne County, including timelines tied to grant awards, utility relocations and railroad coordination. The county's 27% local match for MDOT bridge applications is higher than earlier practice and is intended to improve the chance of securing competitive federal/state bridge funds.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript): - Approval of countywide purchase order with W W Grandeur Inc. for tools and equipment (Item 1): requested approval; discussed by Joseph Farcher; approved as part of the motion at the end of the meeting (motion carried; roll-call not recorded). - Amendment 1 to purchase order with Waterfront Petroleum Terminal Company for gasoline and diesel supply (Item 2): requested extension through March 31, 2027; approved as part of the motion at the end of the meeting (motion carried; roll-call not recorded). - Grant application to MDOT Local Bridge Program for Northville Road over Middle Rouge River and Inkster Road over E. Hines Drive (Item 3): application filed; county proposing 27% local match; staff said awards announced around October; authorization to apply approved as part of the motion at the end of the meeting (motion carried; roll-call not recorded). - Retroactive Amendment 1 with Orchard Hills and McLemont for Southfield Road over Ecorse Creek construction engineering (Item 4): requested approval to continue CE services; approved as part of the motion at the end of the meeting (motion carried; roll-call not recorded). - Retroactive Amendment 1 with Baker & Associates for Pelham Road construction engineering (Item 5): requested approval to continue CE services; approved as part of the motion at the end of the meeting (motion carried; roll-call not recorded). - Facility adjustment/reimbursement agreement with Buckeye Pipeline Company for Allen Road grade separation (Item 6): estimated relocation cost ~$2,948,000; approved as part of the motion at the end of the meeting (motion carried; roll-call not recorded).

Next steps noted in the meeting: MDOT bridge award announcements are expected around October; county staff said they will monitor utility relocations (including AT&T fiber) and coordinate with MDOT and railroad stakeholders before beginning major construction on the Northville Road baseline bridge in January.