Sellersburg council accepts low bid for US 31 utility relocation

The Sellersburg Town Council voted to accept the low bid from Lawyer Excavation Inc. for the utility work associated with the US 31 road improvements, according to council discussion at the meeting. The contracted low bid was presented to the council as Lawyer Excavation Incorporated at "$1,000,154.02 39" (as entered on the bid tab). Council member Matt (council member) moved to accept the low bid; Terry (council member) seconded the motion, and the motion carried. Council and project staff discussed how the second round of bidding removed a night-work requirement and extended the substantial-completion period from 45 days to 90 days to improve contractor response. A JTL representative said the bid tab showed 12 pay items — five sanitary-sewer items and seven water items — and that the low bidder’s lump-sum and per-item pricing were summarized on the bid tab. Council members asked whether the work would cost the town. Town staff discussed an extraordinary-cost agreement while answering questions about town exposure; staff described the procurement adjustments (removing night work and lengthening completion time) as intended to improve the contractor pool. The vote to accept the low bidder was taken without a roll-call tally recorded in the meeting transcript; council announced the motion approved. The council did not enact construction contract documents at the meeting beyond awarding the bid; staff said they would submit the letters and contract paperwork to proceed.