Adams County commissioners approve routine claims, take Bridge 105 bids under advisement and authorize contract steps

Adams County commissioners approved routine payroll and vendor claims, accepted multiple contractor bids for a county bridge project and authorized related contract steps at their meeting.

The panel voted to accept payroll claims, Allied Weekly health insurance claims of $29,068.73 and utilities payments of $35,715.30, and approved monthly weights-and-measures and other routine reports. Those motions were made and seconded and recorded as approved by the commissioners present.

Highway Department staff opened six bids for Bridge 105 (100 South over Brewster Ditch). Bids ranged from $295,000 (Brumbaugh Construction, Arcanum, Ohio) to higher offers from other firms. Staff asked commissioners to take the bids under advisement; the board approved taking the submissions under advisement and later authorized issuance of a notice of intent to award to Brumbaugh Construction at $295,000, allowing the county to request the contractor’s performance and payment bonds and complete contract paperwork at the first January meeting.

The board also approved a separate quote for bridge-deck cleaning and sealing: TLC (Adams County) submitted the low quote of $28,200 to power-wash and apply a penetrating sealer to 20 bridge decks. Staff said structural sub‑structure cleaning had been separated out because of available funds; commissioners approved the scope and contract authorization for the deck cleaning work.

Commissioners accepted annual bids for concrete and limestone aggregate and related materials submitted in the county’s competitive-bid process and placed the results on record for use during the coming year.

On a records-management item, the county attorney advised that an enhancement to the scanning contract with SC Strategic Solutions falls within the Indiana Code exception for specified technological compatibility (Indiana Code 5-22-10-7). Commissioners approved the enhancement request, which the attorney and staff said would obligate up to the $206,000 enhancement and allow use of ARPA funds as proposed; staff said any additional cost would be covered from clerk-held funds as previously discussed.

Many routine motions at the meeting were adopted by the two commissioners present and seconded when made; the board indicated unanimous approval in roll-call practice for those items.

Votes at a glance - Payroll claims: motion to accept — approved (motion and second recorded; commissioners present voted to approve). referenced segment: payroll claims amount. - Allied Weekly health insurance claims $29,068.73 — approved. - Utilities paid $35,715.30 — approved. - Weights and measures monthly report (36 inspections) — approved. - Bridge 105 bids: took six bids under advisement — approved to take under advisement; later authorized notice of intent to award to Brumbaugh Construction ($295,000) — approved. - Bridge deck cleaning/sealing contract: approved TLC quote $28,200 — approved. - Annual bids (concrete, limestone aggregates and related) — accepted and placed on record. - SC Strategic Solutions scanning enhancement (approx. $206,000): accepted; authorized to obligate ARPA funding up to proposed amount and allow clerk fund coverage as presented — approved.

What the board did not decide at the meeting: commissioners held an informational public meeting regarding proposed increases to equine-drawn vehicle licensing fees at the South Adams Senior Center on a later date; no final fee action was taken at this session.

The board indicated paperwork and final contract documents would be completed and brought back at the first meeting in January where required.