Board takes ANS Tile (215) bids under advisement after opening; staff outlines schedule and collection timeline

A drainage board meeting in Noble County opened contractor quotes for the ANS Tile (215) reconstruction and moved to take the proposals under advisement while staff verifies totals and completes the finance reconciliation.

Staff provided a schedule for the project, saying Phase 1 (from the south side of Drake Road to the east side of Beacon Road) has a completion date of Aug. 14 and Phase 2 (east of Beacon Road toward State Road 3 bypass) has a completion date of Sept. 25. Staff said, provided work is completed as scheduled, collections related to the reconstruction will be certified no later than the board's second meeting in October and that outstanding balances will be subject to a 10% charge; staff stated collections would be due by Nov. 10, 2027.

The board opened several contractor quotes and read unit prices; staff said some bidders provided unit prices without extended totals, so the board should verify total bid amounts before awarding. Staff gave example figures and package estimates (for example, individual line items and package B estimates in the $40,000–$70,000 range were read aloud during the opening). The chair read the submitted items aloud during the opening and staff asked the board to delay final action until totals could be calculated and contractors consulted.

During discussion, staff noted reconstruction statutory and budget constraints, including the 110% reconstruction-limit calculation used for comparison against earlier project estimates. Staff reviewed prior reconstruction numbers (the original reconstruction total was discussed at roughly $476,000, with a 110% ceiling near $524,000) and said their current combined estimates for the phases are near but under the 110% cap, though the staff cautioned the figures are estimates and subject to verification.

A board member moved to take the bid packages under advisement and bring final figures back to the board at the June 22 meeting; another board member seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote (the chair asked “All in favor say I,” and members responded). The board did not award the contract at the meeting.

The board also reviewed district finances during the meeting. Staff reported recent system counts (previously 98 positive systems and 11 negative; one system moved negative since then, leaving 97 positive and 12 negative) and said the district's GDI figure was roughly 1,525; staff added that recent receipts fell to a little under $130,000 and that a reconciliation of drainage funds was expected to be completed by the end of the week or early next week.

Next steps: staff will compute total bid amounts, follow up with bidders and contractors for clarification, and return to the board with final numbers at the June 22 meeting for possible award and certification.