Vine Avenue bid well below estimate

By Mary Zielinski
Bids for bridge replacement and concrete overlay on Vine Avenue (old Highway 218) came in April 21 $140,285 below estimate for the two projects. As a result, Tuesday, May 12, the Washington County board of Supervisors awarded contracts to Winfield Contractors, Inc. of Winfield for the bridge replacement south of 192nd Street, at a cost of $234,917, and to Concrete Foundations, Inc. of New Hampton for four miles of concrete overlay on Vine Avenue from Highway 22, at a cost of $1,445,798. Estimates for the first was $270,000 and for the second, $1,550,000.
County Engineer Dave Patterson Tuesday told the board that Concrete Foundations will use Croell Ready Mix of Iowa City for the concrete. He said the pre-construction meeting is May 21 and the contractor said he will start work in July.
Bridge replacement bids ranged from $243,917 to $290,708. Road overlay bids went from $1,445,798 to $1,716,751. Only Concrete Foundations was below estimate with the second highest, $1,589,704.
Funding for the work is from state and federal money, said Patterson, admitting he initially “was nervous” about how the bids would come in for the concrete work.
“This is very good,” he said, noting there were five bidders for the project.
Asked by Supervisor Steve Davis if there were any extra stimulus money, Patterson replied, “No. That was spent.” The county received $738,000 to aid with road work.
In other business, the board:

• appointed Lori Bauer of Washington to the Board of Public Health, replacing Mike Christenson. The term expires December 31, 2010;
• set 10 a.m. May 26 for bid letting for the countyÕs annual fuel contract;
• approved a Quit Claim Deed for Taylor rentals, LLC, Ainsworth for three-tenths of an acre of county land to aid with clearing a stage right of way issue; and
• approved the sheriffÕs departmentÕs application for a JAG grant to aid with the K9 unit.