The Linn County Commission agreed on Monday, Oct. 21, to sign an agreement that would limit the county's cost on replacing the Hell's Bend bridge to $180,000. Work on the project is expected to begin in late spring 2025. (Journal file photo)
By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com
MOUND CITY – On Monday, Oct 21, the Linn County Commissioners approved signed a supplemental agreement to the Hell’s Bend bridge project that stated the total cost of the project to Linn County would only be $180,000.
At first, it looked like Commission Chair Danny McCullough was reluctant to sign the agreement. He asked Public Works Director Shaun West several times what would happen if there were overages or change orders to the contract.
West said that he was not an attorney, but what he read in the agreement was that this document capped the county’s responsibility through the project at $180,000.
McCullough asked, “I guess this would be a legal question, if there is an huge change order and the state doesn’t agree to it and we don’t agree to it and the project is already started, who is liable for it?”
“Again, I would have to go directly for that question,” West answered. “What I’m reading, there is our cap and our responsibility to the project, and they (the state) cover engineering, and they cover several different parts of the project, but that our total cap throughout the project is $180,000.
McCullough asked, “Who are we designating to be our owner’s representative for this project? Is it you?”
West answered, “I will be signing everything at different points and different stages as an owner’s representative because I did the right-of-way purchasing and I am logged in through their system to do that when necessary. But as the owner’s representative you have hired Pfefferkorn Engineering to do the third-party quality for us.”
“I will be directly dealing with the state on any questions you have on the project,” said West. “The start date they projected for a late spring start date and a no later than mid-fall completion date.”
The commissioners agreed to approve and sign the supplemental agreement.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Learned from West that, of the culverts that have a diameter of 3 feet or larger that have been inspected in the county, 40% of them will need to be replaced or scheduled early for replacement due to damage.
• Learned from West that no bids were received for roofing the hail-damaged roofs on the annex and 4-H building.
• Heard a report from West on the 900 Road project. He said it was set and ready to be poured as soon as the engineer gives the county the go ahead. It will probably be completed this week.
• Were reminded by West that a resolution needed to be reached on the Parker Senior Center building. West suggested that a legal agreement be drawn up.
• Heard from West that he had approached Whitaker and Hamm quarries about the pricing of rock. McCullough had previously asked him to try to leverage the cost because the county was a big volume buyer.
According to West, Whitaker had politely and professionally offered to answer any questions directly. Hamm had answered in writing that Linn County was in the top of the savings list as far as quantity customers per ton. Hamm said that because of Linn County’s volume they could possibly see only a 7% or 8% increase because of the volume as compared to the projected 10% increase for other customers.
McCullough said, “Winning, I like it. That was easy, right?”
• Learned from West that at the area where the commissioners approved a resolution for the school bus stop warning area on the curve of County Road 1077 that the owner of the property had completely cleared the area of all the obstructions and cedars that were blocking the visibility on that curve.
West said the signage would be going up shortly there.
West said the owner did an amazing job clearing that line of sight that anyone coming through those curves are going to be able to see that bus from a long way away and he was very appreciative of the property owner and their cooperation with the county.
• At the recommendation of West, the commissioners terminated and removed from administrative leave at this point Kevin Amer from the traffic control department. West asked that the county thank him for his service.
McCullough thanked Amer for his work with the county.
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