Mitchell County approves design contracts for two bridge replacements, eyes federal CHBP grant

Mitchell County supervisors on June 30 approved professional services agreements with WHKS to design two bridge replacement projects, Liberty G-231 and Ultrano A-261, and agreed to related funding arrangements that the county said would rely on an estimated 80/20 federal-local match.

County Engineer Rich told the board the lump-sum design fee for each bridge is $56,700 and that the federal notice of funding opportunity for the CHBP grant is out with an application deadline of July 27. He said counties will likely need to form a 28E intergovernmental agreement with the Iowa DOT and neighboring counties to pursue the grant and that the work will require concentrated, time‑sensitive effort, including support letters and possible additional board action to approve the 28E terms.

"The notice of funding opportunity came out. The grant application is due by July 27th," Rich said, and warned the timeline would force staff and partners to drop other work to assemble grant materials quickly.

Supervisors moved and approved the two PSAs together. The board also approved CHP/CHBP funding agreements for multiple bridge structures and discussed preliminary per-bridge cost figures and the county's likely 20 percent local share, to be funded from bridge funds.

Board members asked whether a special board session would be required solely to approve any 28E agreement or whether approval could fit into a regular meeting; Rich said the county might need a special session depending on timing. He also said consultants would assist with gathering needed grant data and support letters.

Next steps: design work under the PSAs will proceed and staff said they will monitor the grant committee’s emergency schedule and report back if a special session is necessary for approval of a 28E agreement or local match commitments.