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County engineer outlines plan to reallocate funds and pursue $2M Pleasant Grove Road paving if market conditions hold
Summary
The county engineer told supervisors he plans to re-sequence projects and combine carryover funds to bid a roughly $2 million Pleasant Grove Road paving project next winter should contractor availability and pricing remain favorable.
Des Moines County’s engineer presented a detailed construction-program update on March 3 and said he intends to pivot the department’s plans to take advantage of unexpectedly low bid prices and contractor availability.
The engineer explained that bids for Pleasant Grove Road previously ranged from $1.9 million to $2.0 million in estimates but came in substantially lower during a recent bidding round; he said similar competition next winter could permit the county to bid an expanded paving project of roughly $2 million by combining current fiscal-year savings, carryover and a DOT transfer the engineer expects to materialize.
He told the board that this approach would require shifting or delaying some secondary-roads shop projects and other spending but could yield significant taxpayer savings if local contractors and a portable concrete plant remain available. He cautioned that the plan is contingent on contractor schedules—specifically whether a DOT contractor will keep a portable plant in the area—and that staff will monitor DOT and contractor availability closely before committing.
The engineer said staff will continue to refine estimates and may return with a budget amendment and formal construction program changes later this spring should the county proceed. Supervisors expressed support for pursuing the opportunity but emphasized the need for close monitoring and clear budget amendments before committing to contracts.
