County engineer updates crews, bridge work and fleet-auction proceeds

County engineer Clay Phillips (filling in) briefed commissioners on several infrastructure projects at the May 21 work session. Paving crews are completing work in Kentland and Tusk and moving into Shoal Creek; the base crew finished pad work at the arena and began access construction for the Wolf Creek debris-removal and bridge-replacement project. Phillips said he asked the original hydrology firm (Long Engineering, now Atlas) to update design plans for the bridge.

Phillips also reported a final invoice from the Raglan Water Authority to relocate a waterline on Macedonia Road so the bridge replacement can proceed next fiscal year. For fleet management, he described a proposal from JM Wood to consign Kenworth triaxles at a June auction with a guaranteed floor of about $430,000; historically auction proceeds fund road-department needs.

Other project notes included restarted work on Kerr Road (Highway 411), contractor coordination to bring a detour to sufficient standard using federal funds, and a planned change order of $5,623 to change a new equipment storage building roof color from galvalume to Colony Green to match the highway campus; the color change will be brought to the commission on Tuesday.

Commissioners asked for follow-up cost details and asked staff to include the auction revenue assumptions in the next budget discussion. No formal contract awards or votes were taken at the session; staff said formal agenda items and required budget amendments will appear on Tuesday's meeting.