(Posted Jan. 28, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
For Mount Sterling, the second time was the charm.
On Jan. 19, a contract was approved for Columbus Asphalt Paving Co. to fix flood and drainage issues on Columbus and Market streets in the village. The project calls for a new storm sewer line, catch basins, curbs and gutters.
The Gahanna-based company’s bid was one of five the village received in a second round of bidding on the project. The second-round bids were opened on Jan. 12 at the Madison County commissioners office.
The first time around, the one bid submitted came in $100,000 over the engineer’s estimate of $290,000. For a better chance of receiving more competitive bids, the village revised the project. Instead of boring into the ground to replace the sewer line, the specs called for getting to the line via an open cut, a less expensive process that more companies are equipped to do. The new estimated cost was $271,361.
The project revision was successful in attracting more interest from contractors. however, bids still came in over the revised estimate. A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is paying for most of the project. The county and the village of Mount Sterling are providing some matching funds. CDBG guidelines allow acceptance of bids up to 10 percent over the estimate.
Columbus Asphalt Paving’s bid of $297,840, considered to be the best and lowest bid received, came in right at 10 percent over the estimate. The county commissioners approved the recommendation to move forward with the contract.
The drainage issues are causing street flooding, erosion of the railroad easement parallel to Church Street, and foundation problems for buildings at the Church and Market streets intersection.
“I’ve worked in Mount Sterling for 16 years and there’s been water standing there for at least that long,” said Joe Johnson, Mount Sterling village administrator. “We’re happy to get the project moving.”
Work on the project will begin in early March and finish up 40 to 60 days later, weather permitting.
