St. Joseph County commissioners forward bridge bids, approve emergency culvert repairs and $8,000 settlement

The St. Joseph County Commissioners on Tuesday advanced multiple infrastructure contracts and financial actions, forwarding construction bids for two bridge projects to Public Works, approving an emergency repair for a failing culvert and accepting a negotiated settlement in a workers’ compensation case.

County engineering staff read bids for Bridge 196 (Mayflower Road over Ardmore Trail) and Bridge 301 (Main Street over the Indiana Toll Road). Skye Metters of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth reported three bids for Bridge 196: Rees/Reef Riley Construction Company at $2,504,513.76; ICC Group (Elburn, Illinois) at $2,224,000; and Milestone Contractors LP (South Bend) at $2,297,549.16. For Bridge 301, Metters reported bids from Reef Riley Construction ($2,562,900.85), ICC Group ($2,510,500.00) and Milestone Contractors ($2,383,133.98). Commissioners voted to turn both sets of bids over to Public Works for review and for an award recommendation.

The board also approved a resolution declaring emergency repairs for a failing culvert on Sycamore Road, south of Quinn Road. Metters said crews found settlement and a small sinkhole and recommended pouring an invert inside the existing culvert as a repair that will allow the road to reopen sooner than a full replacement. Metters said the quote for the repair is approximately $138,000 (under $150,000). Commissioners moved to approve the emergency work and the motion carried.

Bree Roberts, director of procurement, presented a previously negotiated compromise settlement in the matter Chad Tanner v. St. Joseph County Highway Department. Roberts said the settlement amount is $8,000 total, negotiated with the county’s workers’ compensation attorney and the workers’ compensation board; the board approved the settlement.

In personnel and services business, Selena Carr, Human Resources Manager, asked the commissioners to approve a contract with Beacon Health Ventures for annual personal health assessments (PHAs) to be held at Paragon Clinic in 2025. Carr said the screenings will include vitals and lab work for employees and covered retirees, with a goal of roughly 1,400 screenings and results mailed within six weeks; she noted a county savings of about $20,000 from prior clinic arrangements. Commissioners approved the contract.

The board approved several procurement and professional-service agreements: an engineering inspection services agreement for the Mayflower/Bridge 196 project with Lawson Fisher Associates; a Burns & Walsh LLC contract to handle commercial appraisals for cases going to the Indiana Board of Tax Review; and a residential-appraisal agreement with John Snyder for residential appeals. A mileage request from Purdue Extension was tabled.

The Emergency Management Agency requested and received approval to encumber $42,213.36 in unencumbered American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for the county’s outdoor warning-siren project, covering repeater antennas and tower work. EMA Director Al Kirsten said the transfer is bookkeeping of previously awarded ARP funds and described the items as necessary to complete repeater antenna and tower installation.

All motions reported in the meeting were made, seconded and approved by voice vote where recorded.

The meeting recessed after public comment and will reconvene as scheduled for future items on the agenda.