Board hears updates on road projects

     With all of the right of way now purchased for the 215^th Avenue grading project, the Jones County Supervisors approved a notice to bidders during their Feb. 13 board meeting.

   County Engineer Derek Snead said the letting would take place on April 9 at 9:30 a.m.

   This project encompasses just under 3 miles of roadway.

   "We anticipate we'll get very good interest and prices," Snead said of the bidding process and interest.

   The late start date on the project is July 15.

   "The contractor would have the opportunity to start in May," offered Snead.

   There are 75 working days.

   "The majority of the project will hopefully be complete before harvest starts," he added. "If not, there will be a short detour. Our major factor will be the weather."

   The project estimate is $1.3 million. Both Snead and Assistant Engineer Todd Postel are hopeful the bids will come in under budget.

   "We've been pretty fortunate the last few times with competitive bids," noted Supervisor John Schlarmann.

   This cost is in addition to the $245,000 used to purchase right of way. Postel said there is also $100,000 in fence damages.

   Two other road projects were also the topic of discussion during the board meeting.

   The board set a date and time to receive bids for the sale on unused right of way on a portion of Military Road in Anamosa. Bids will be opened on April 9 at 9:30 a.m.

   The right of way amounts to. 45 acres. Snead said the property was appraised at $6,000, fair market value.

   "If the high bid isn't an adjacent landowner and a landowner is interested," Snead explained to the board, "we need to give them the opportunity to increase their bid amount above the highest bid collected."

   The supervisors asked Snead if bids would be allowed via Zoom or in-person. It was agreed that all interested parties must bid in-person during that board meeting or send a representative on their behalf.

   The board took action to close out the County Road X-64 culvert replacement project by approving the final voucher. The contract amount was $687,309.01. The prime contractor was B&J Hauling & Excavation.

   "They took an old bridge out and replaced it with a culvert," explained Snead. "And they extended (drainage) pipes and driveways, and widened field accesses.

   The second phase of this project, the concrete overlay, is scheduled for this current road construction season.

   "We don't have an estimate yet," noted Postel. "There's been a dramatic increase in the price."

   The original estimate was $2.5 million. It could be around $4 million now.

   "It wasn't that long ago we put an estimate together," said Postel.