Commissioners refer sealed bids for Bridge 85 and Culvert P4 to highway supervisor, approve inspection supplement and support letter for Franklin

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners opened sealed bids for Bridge 85 and Culvert P4 and referred the materials to Highway Supervisor Luke Masten for review and recommendation at the next meeting.

At the meeting the clerk read three bids: Duncan Robertson, Inc.; HIS Constructors, Inc.; and Milestone Contractors (Columbus). The bid amounts were read aloud by staff and transcribed with formatting irregularities; county staff presented them during the meeting as approximately $1,517,573.40 (Duncan Robertson), $1,784,340.23 (HIS Constructors), and $1,938,310.00 (Milestone Contractors). A commissioner moved to give the bids to Luke Masten for review; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Masten, identified in the meeting as Highway Supervisor, also presented two related items. He asked the board to ratify a support letter the county provided to the City of Franklin to accompany Franklin’s application to the federal Communities Project Funding program for a Foresight Street bridge project. Commissioners approved that ratification by voice vote.

Masten then requested approval of a first supplement to the county’s bridge inspection contract with Butler, Fairman & Seufert (name transcribed in the record as a variant). He said the $9,610 supplement covers an expanded inspection process that requires additional consultant effort. Commissioners approved the supplement by voice vote.

When commissioners pressed for timing, Masten said the project schedule depends largely on utility relocations and substation work in Franklin and on whether Franklin secures federal funding; he said partnering decisions and utility work will determine the project horizon.

The board did not take a final bid-award at the meeting; instead, members referred the sealed bids to staff for review and asked for a recommendation at a future meeting.