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Angola approves build‑operate‑transfer resolution and construction contracts for Pokagon utility project
Summary
The council approved Resolution 2025‑891 to award a build‑operate‑transfer contract to Kokosing and accepted guaranteed‑maximum pricing and multiple engineering and construction‑administration agreements for the Pokagon Utility Project totaling tens of millions of dollars.
The Angola Common Council on July 7 approved a resolution and a series of contracts to advance the Pokagon Utility Project, including a build‑operate‑transfer (BOT) approach and a guaranteed maximum price for construction.
By unanimous roll call, the council passed Resolution 2025‑891 to approve a BOT award to Kokosing (recorded variously in the packet). Council later approved the corresponding BOT construction agreement for the Pokagon Utility Project Division 1 with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $17,274,800; the GMP includes a $550,000 built‑in contingency, council members were told. The contracts cover both water and sewer work.
Nathan Burton of Wessler Engineering told the council contractors expect to start construction around Labor Day, with project teams likely beginning work the week of Sept. 1–2 and working south‑to‑north; he said different crews may run in parallel (lift station work vs. pipe crews). Burton said crews could be on site through nearly two years.
Council and staff clarified property and easement ownership along the route: easements along roadways will be held by the city; park property and portions inside state parkland will require a separate agreement between the city and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to split ownership post‑construction. City staff said the city is the applicant for funding and therefore must be party to the contract with the construction firm.
The council also approved engineering and construction‑administration agreements related to the project: - Wessler Engineering: project representation services and Division 2 construction administration, $924,700. - Fleis & VandenBrink (listed in packet as a local engineering firm): Division 1 construction administration services, $225,000 (listed in packet for drinking water project administration). - A previously listed Division 3 construction‑administration amount was corrected in the meeting to $40,000 and approved as such.
Council discussion addressed the meaning of “guaranteed maximum amount,” with staff explaining that agreed‑upon change orders or scope changes could increase the GMP; the $17.2748 million figure reflects current scope. Staff confirmed the GMP includes the $550,000 contingency.
Votes on the BOT resolution, the construction agreement (GMP $17,274,800) and the engineering/CA agreements were recorded by roll call and carried by the council.
