Bid-opening delay
Due to increasing inspection costs and construction worker wage rates, the Pottawatomie County Commission decided to delay the bid opening for the US-24 Highway and Green Valley Rd. intersection improvement project by three weeks during their meeting Monday.
Commissioner Pat Weixelman says he is considering abandoning the project all together.
Public Works Director Peter Clark believes doing so or even delaying the project for too long could jeopardize the county’s ability to access Kansas Department of Transportation funds in the future as it can reflect poorly on the ability of state workers to get things done.
On the flip side, Weixelman says KDOT could be jeopardizing its relationship with the county.
The commission also cited increasing COVID-19 response costs as a reason for their hesitation to spend on a large project.
Changes to asphalt-road improvement plan
The Pottawatomie County Commission approved changes to the Public Works Department’s plans to improve asphalt roads throughout the county in 2020.
Public Works Director Peter Clark says the changes will reduce the amount of individual projects involved in the plan.
According to Clark, the plan will still fall within the county’s budget even with the changes.
The commission’s next weekly meeting will take place Monday at 8:30 a.m. in Westmoreland.
