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Worth County supervisors approve completion of Drainage District No. 14 project, set 30-day retainage release
Summary
Worth County supervisors acting for Drainage District No. 14 voted May 4 to accept completion of the DD 14 construction project, authorize $10,766 in crop-damage payments to four landowners, and allow contractor Rognes Brothers to receive 10% retainage ($116,489.31) after 30 days if no deficiencies are found.
The Board of Supervisors of Worth County, acting for Drainage District No. 14, voted May 4 to accept completion of the district's repair project, approve $10,766 in crop-damage payments to four landowners, and authorize release of 10% retainage to contractor Rognes Brothers after 30 days if no deficiencies are identified.
Engineer Jon Rosengren told the board that the project was effectively wrapped up last fall and that Rognes Brothers of Lake Mills had submitted a low bid of $926,008.50 against an original engineer estimate of $1,104,303. Rosengren said change orders totaling $238,884.55 pushed the final construction cost to $1,164,893.05. "We were meeting to wrap up the DD 14 project," Rosengren said, and he added, "this should be the final meeting." He said the county is holding 10% retainage, $116,489.31, to address any remaining deficiencies and that Rognes Brothers can receive that retainage 30 days after the hearing if none are reported.
Rosengren described three change orders the board was asked to accept: two involved upsizing the boring underneath Iowa DOT Highway 65 and shifting the crossing north to avoid two gas lines (an added cost of $83,365), and the final change order covered a railroad boring that encountered water issues (an added $39,346.50). He said an invoice prepared for the railroad work had not been paid and that county staff are coordinating with the drainage attorney on that matter.
The board considered crop-damage calculations prepared by Bolton & Menk using 10-year averages from the Ag Decision Maker tool: $959 per acre for corn, $644 per acre for soybeans, and $77 per acre for rock picking and soil finishing. Bolton & Menk identified four landowners with combined recommended damages totaling $10,766, and the board voted to approve payment to the landowners as required.
Supervisor Mark Smeby moved to approve the recommended damages and to accept completion of the contract; Vice-Chairperson A.J. Stone seconded. The board also voted to permit payment of the 10% retainage to Rognes Brothers 30 days after the hearing, contingent on no outstanding deficiencies. The motions carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:42 a.m.
Attending officials listed in the minutes included Vice-Chairperson A.J. Stone, Supervisor Mark Smeby, Auditor Jacki Backhaus, Drainage Clerk Chelsey Doty, and Engineer Jon Rosengren; Angela Wilkins was present via Zoom.
