Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Jackson Street Sewer topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gibson County ARPA board backs low $238,173 bid for Jackson Street sewer, pending Treasury approval
Summary
The Gibson County ARPA board approved accepting Kefir Brothers’ $238,173 low bid for the Jackson Street sewer project in Oakland City and agreed to use remaining ARPA funds pending U.S. Treasury guidance on eligibility; staff will confirm rules and explore county funding if needed.
The Gibson County ARPA board voted to accept the low bid of $238,173 from Kefir Brothers of Mount Carmel, Illinois, for the Jackson Street sewer project in Oakland City, but directed staff to confirm with the U.S. Treasury that remaining ARPA funds can be reallocated to cover the shortfall.
Board members opened the discussion by noting commissioners had preliminarily approved the low bid and asked whether the ARPA account could cover the cost. A board member said, “I mean I think it’s a good bid, but we don’t have enough money to award it,” citing an available balance near $225,000 and outstanding engineering bills.
Staff told the board a recent Treasury ruling may allow moving ARPA funds between approved projects if the receiving project was approved by Dec. 31, 2024, though staff said they would check Treasury guidance to confirm whether the Jackson Street work meets the criteria. “I want to talk to Treasury to make absolutely sure,” a staff member said.
Engineering representatives explained a technical revision to the plans: gravity lines would retain a 36-inch cover while the shared force main would be set to 42 inches, a compromise the parties agreed to and which the mayor is expected to sign. Bill Lewis, the engineering representative on the call, summarized the engineer’s sign-off and the minor specification change.
Following discussion, a motion was made to use the remainder of the ARPA account toward the Kefir Brothers bid of $238,173; the motion was seconded, a voice vote was taken and the motion carried. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or numerical tally. The board’s action is contingent on Treasury confirmation; members also asked staff to explore whether the county could cover any remaining shortfall if Treasury rules disallow the transfer.
The board listed two immediate next steps: staff will confirm ARPA eligibility with the U.S. Treasury and return with options for covering any shortfall, and the board will reconvene to finalize funding decisions if necessary.
The motion leaves the project ready to proceed with contracted terms once funding eligibility is confirmed.
