St. Joseph County approves Colfax Avenue bridge interlocal agreement, DLZ supplemental and other infrastructure contracts

At its July 7 meeting the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved several infrastructure and procurement items, including an interlocal agreement with the city of South Bend for Colfax Avenue bridge improvements, a supplemental design agreement with consultant DLZ Indiana, acceptance of final inspection for the Cleveland and Beach Road roundabout, and a bid award for road milling.

Skye Matters of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Growth told the board the interlocal agreement divides construction and design costs between the county and the city so each pays for work tied to its responsibilities. Matters described the county’s construction share as about $3,880,000 and the city’s as about $2,700,000; design and observation fees were described as split with the city paying about $561,000 and the county about $504,000. Matters summarized the county’s total estimated share around $4,300,000 and the city’s near $3,300,000 and said legal staff had reviewed the agreement.

Matters said the agreement assigns maintenance for pedestrian railing and certain aesthetic and lighting features to the city, and that the county will invoice the city for the city’s share after bids and “true up” any final discrepancies at project closeout.

The board approved supplemental agreement No. 1 with DLZ Indiana to cover additional design tasks required after scope changes. Matters said the supplemental increased the design contract by $657,000; the city’s share was described as about $561,000 and the county’s as $96,500. County staff said these additions were requested by the county and were valid additions to the design scope.

The board also approved IPG’s recommendation to accept the Cleveland and Beach Road roundabout following a satisfactory final inspection (May 12) and to approve the related NDOT contract (R-42200) that establishes maintenance-bond dates. IPG reported it received four quotes for a separate milling project (MDash92601) and recommended award to the lowest bidder, Reath Riley Construction Company, for $168,647.19; the board approved the bid award.

All motions on these items were approved by the board during the meeting and recorded as carried.

Why it matters: the approvals commit county funds and set design and maintenance responsibilities with a neighboring municipality, affecting capital budgeting and future operations. The supplemental agrees to additional design costs the county said were requested by staff, and the acceptance of the roundabout establishes maintenance-bond timing.

What’s next: IPG will invoice the city for its share and proceed with administration of the projects; staff will finalize bid awards and contract execution.