Commission awards $8.11 million Main Street contract to Reith Riley; approves utility reimbursement agreement subject to final costs

The Mooresville Redevelopment Commission on Sept. 8 voted to award the Main Street construction contract to Reith Riley Construction Company for $8,110,669.41 and approved a utility reimbursement agreement with Indiana American Water subject to finalization of the reimbursable amount.

Chelsea, town staff, presented bid-review materials and said both Banning Engineering and Indiana American Water reviewed the bids and recommended awarding to the apparent low bidder, Reith Riley Construction Company. Chelsea reported that the total low bid including Main Street work was $8,110,669.41 and that the water‑main portion of the project is $1,068,616.86, which Indiana American will pay under the reimbursement agreement.

"You have a couple of things for you. 1, in your packet, you have a recommendation of award for Main Street Construction for Banning Engineering as well as 1 from Indiana American Water. Both reviewed the bids to make sure we're comparing apples to apples, and both Banning Engineering as well as Indiana American recommended, that the apparent low bid, which was Reeth Riley, is who we should move forward with," Chelsea said.

Chelsea also explained that the reimbursement agreement contained an estimated amount of $1,217,945 in its draft exhibits; she said the figure in the agreement was on the high side to include engineering fees and potential change orders. Staff asked the commission to approve the agreement "subject to finalization of the number," so any change orders would not require separate commission reapproval for adjustments within actual contract costs.

Adam, a staff member, clarified that the larger figure reflected added engineering fees from Banning and provided flexibility so Indiana American would not later claim shortage if final reimbursable costs were lower.

Commissioner Brian Culp moved to award the bid to Reith Riley Construction Company in the amount of $8,110,669.41; the commission approved the award by voice vote. Later the commission approved the utility reimbursement agreement with Indiana American Water, again by voice vote, and recorded the approval as "subject to the finalization of costs" in the motion.

There was no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript. Staff said exhibits B and C containing supporting detail were not printed and will be finalized with Indiana American prior to execution. The commission asked no substantive amendments to the award or reimbursement agreement at the meeting.