Google Maps imageBids for improvements to the intersection of US Hwy 24 and Green Valley Road have come in more than 20 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate.
Hamm Construction submitted the low bid of $4.02 million, roughly 22 percent higher than the $3.3 million estimate put out. The project, which has been delayed several times, is less likely to move forward at this point.
Pottawatomie County Public Works Director Peter Clark will return with a recommendation at the Sept. 14 county commission meeting.
Clark is also proposing solutions to erosion issues in the Black Jack Estates subdivision, located north of US 24 and Flush Road.
Clark says the subdivision was designed in 2014, prior to the county requiring drainage studies. The problem lies within poor designs of culverts and ditches that cause washouts of driveways. Clark says the size of drainage tubes in the subdivision are not large enough to carry the amount of runoff from a heavy rain. He proposed up-sizing several tubes and removing a siltation berm.
“We estimate the cost of making these repairs, replacing these tubes and making repairs to the ditches is about $20,000 to $25,000,” he said.
Clark says SMH Consultants made the initial recommendation for the tube sizes when they designed the subdivision. Commissioner Pat Weixelman says because of that, it should be their responsibility to fix the problem.
“This should have a warranty to where if their calculations are not right from the very get go, when it comes down, they ought to be held responsible for what they initially proposed,” he said.
County Counselor John Watt suggested the county commission discuss further issues in executive session, a point echoed by Commission Chair Dee McKee. to which Weixelman and Commissioner Greg Riat argued they had no problems discussing it in front of the public.
“I get we don’t want to talk about it, I’m fine with that. But Peter brought a problem, it’s nothing he did. I kind of agree with Pat, it seems like this is something we need to look at,” Riat said.
The discussion will be revisited in two weeks, at the Sept. 14 meeting.
