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County moves to amend conservation easement for road realignment, hears road bid results and utility grant updates
Summary
Commissioners approved moving forward with an agreement to amend a Fortera conservation easement so a county road realignment can proceed, reviewed two road bid openings where combined bids saved an estimated $250,000, and heard that commerce grant scope changes likely permit purchase of instant-read meters and other utility improvements.
Mason County commissioners on May 5 were updated on several infrastructure items: a proposed amendment to a conservation easement to allow a road realignment, recent bid openings for county road projects, and grant-scope changes for utilities that could fund meter upgrades and pipeline work.
Public works staff described a county road project (Bercow/Tiger Lake) that requires realigning two 90-degree curves across property subject to a conservation easement held by Fortera. Staff said the county intends to enter an agreement with Fortera to amend the easement to remove the small road footprint so the county can construct a safer alignment; staff asked for authority not to exceed a negotiated fee to amend the easement so the project can proceed pending paperwork.
Staff also reported bid openings for the Matlock-Brady project and the Mallard Grady section. Puget Paving submitted a low bid of about $1,042,000 for Matlock-Brady, roughly $50,000 under the engineer’s estimate; Lakeside submitted a low bid of about $1.3 million for the Mallard Grady work, under the county’s estimate of about $1.5 million. Staff said combining projects in the bid package likely saved about $250,000.
On utilities, staff said they submitted scope changes on commerce grants and expect approvals that would allow use of funds for automatic-read water meters and other Beards Cove upgrades (AC pipe replacement, pump replacement and hydrant work). "We could use the funds that we had in Russellwood to be able to upgrade the meters for the automatic instant read," a utilities staff member said. Staff said final paperwork was pending and that, when completed, department staff have authority to execute the necessary contracts.
Commissioners asked staff to resolve right-of-way and rock-pit issues and to proceed with the work once legal and property matters are settled.
