Commissioners approve multiple highway and bridge items including INDOT HSIP contract, easement for Bridge 40 and water-main change order for Bridge 68

Morgan County commissioners approved several highway and bridge items during the meeting: acceptance of an INDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) construction contract, easement and encroachment agreements for a new Bridge 40, a change order to cover increased water-main relocation costs for the Bridge 68 project, a contract authorization to repair damaged guardrail at Bridge 94, and release of several maintenance bonds for recent subdivisions.

INDOT HSIP contract County engineering staff explained that INDOT has provided a construction contract allocating federal HSIP funds for a 2027 letting. The contract secures funding for the projects listed in the staff packet and allows the county to proceed with final design and later construction funding. Commissioners voted 3–0 to accept the construction contract.

Bridge 40 easement and encroachment agreements Engineering staff described Bridge 40 as a full replacement for a small structure on Leonard Road that was closed last January due to an emergency condition. The final design upsized the crossing, and staff said they needed to acquire right-of-way that intersects a private property owned by John Gibbons. An existing septic mound on Gibbons’ parcel encroaches into the needed right-of-way. Rather than paying tens of thousands to relocate the mound, staff negotiated an easement allowing the septic mound to remain and an encroachment agreement that releases the county from liability should the mound be damaged during construction or future incidents. Staff confirmed the landowner signed the agreement. Commissioners voted to approve the easement and encroachment agreements 3–0.

Bridge 68 water-main relocation change order For the Bridge 68 project (Ballenger/Balder Road over Goose Creek), Morgan County Rural Water’s low construction bid for relocating a conflicting water main came in substantially above the original estimate. Staff explained adjustments made to the water-main alignment reduced overall costs compared to the initial conceptual plan but did not avoid an overrun. Staff proposed increasing the county’s share of the relocation cost from $251,380.50 to $297,576.57 (final corrected figure reported in the meeting) and authorized Morgan County Rural Water to contract with the low bidder, CNHM Excavating (listed in staff materials). Staff said the county’s existing project budget can cover the change order and no additional appropriation is required. Commissioners voted to approve the change order and authorize work to proceed 3–0.

Bridge 94 guardrail repair and maintenance bond releases Staff presented a quote from CTEC Corporation to repair guardrail damaged on Bridge 94. Staff said CTEC was the only contractor to submit a quote for this specialized work; staff will remove a $10,000 deck-patching line item from the quote and perform that work in-house to reduce cost. Commissioners approved proceeding with the guardrail repair 3–0. Staff also recommended release of two maintenance bonds for Allison Estates Section 1 ($52,037 approx.) and North Madison Crossing Sections 2A and 2B ($31,465.25); commissioners approved the bond releases 3–0.

Commissioners instructed staff to proceed with contract execution, right-of-way documentation, and to report back as construction schedules and additional procurement items progress.