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Sellersburg council approves rebid for US 31 utility relocation, moves to condemn property for Ivy Tech sewer easement and ratifies design amendment
Summary
Council voted to rebid the US 31 utility relocation project with revised bid terms, approved moving forward with condemnation to acquire a sewer easement for Ivy Tech construction, and ratified a prior amendment to the Ivy Tech work order.
At its May 27 meeting, the Town of Sellersburg Town Council voted to reject the single prior bid for the US 31 utility relocation project and rebid the work with two key changes: extend the allowed construction window from 45 days to 90 days and remove a requirement that all work occur at night. Mike Harris of JTL, the town’s engineering consultant, said those changes were made after conversations with contractors who attended the pre-bid meeting and that the revisions are intended to attract more bidders and reduce the town’s price exposure.
Harris told the council the rebid will still meet Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) deadlines and that the new schedule will be advertised June 2 with bids opened June 30; substantial completion is scheduled for Oct. 31 and final completion for Nov. 30. Harris said the INDOT-required window was expected to be satisfied even with the extended internal schedule.
On a separate but related infrastructure matter, the council voted to initiate condemnation (eminent-domain) proceedings to acquire a needed easement on a privately owned parcel adjacent to the Penn Street pump station that the council said is owned by multiple individuals. The town has repeatedly offered outdoor utility-value exchanges to the owners, including a free sewer tap and water tap offers with time-limited expirations, and the consultant estimated the offered value at roughly $6,000–$10,000 in utility credits. Council direction was to have town staff advance the condemnation process under state statute, perform appraisals and follow required notice and court procedures.
Council members also voted to approve “Amendment No. 1” to work order 2023-012 for the Ivy Tech sewer design work. Staff told the council the work described in the amendment has already been completed and paid; the amendment is being signed now to place the paperwork on file and carries no additional cost to the town.
The council received other project updates during the same discussion: the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) will host a public meeting on June 5 about Sunflower Valley easement acquisition; the drinking-water PER/Asset Management Plan remains under IFA review; Riverside LCRR work is expected to be completed in June with a report to IDEM and IFA; a small force-main relocation connected to INDOT work on US 31 was said to be scheduled to begin when weather permits; and the town reported higher-than-expected phosphorus levels at the wastewater plant and staff are running targeted tests to investigate a likely outside source.
Votes at a glance: the council approved rebidding the US 31 utility relocation project (motion by Matt, second by Scott; outcome: approved), approved initiation of condemnation proceedings to obtain the Ivy Tech easement (motion by Terry, second by Scott; outcome: approved), and approved Amendment No. 1 to work order 2023-012 for Ivy Tech (motion by Matt, second by Terry; outcome: approved).
