Contract rock placement deadline extended
Twenty-eight percent of Jones County’s gravel roads will see contract rock this season.
During the April 23 Jones County Supervisor meeting, the board approved bids for contract rock, totaling $728,048.30.
Just under 68,000 tons of rock will go down this summer, covering 184 miles of roadway.
Four quarries were awarded contracts:
• Bard at $36,752.50
• River City at $137,251.80
• Weber Stone at $311,582
• Wendling at $242,462
County Engineer Derek Snead said the average per ton was at $10.62, which has doubled over the past 15 years.
“It’s pretty typical,” he said.
With the gravel roads still healing from the harsh winter season, Snead said they are planning to extend the contract rock deadline.
“We don’t know when we’ll light the fuse,” he said of the start date.
Snead said if his office did allow rock to go down now, contractors would only be allowed to hit certain roads.
“It wouldn’t be fair to dictate which roads they could go on,” he said of the contractors,” and which order to do it in.”
Above all, Snead warned there would be delays with contract rock.
“It depends on how many weeks they need,” he said. “The specified completion date could go into July.”
If that were to happen, a change order to modify each contract would be needed.
In other county business:
• The board approved a contract and notice to proceed with Eastern Iowa Excavating and Concrete LLC for replacement of sidewalk, stairs, ramp, and retaining wall at the west entrance of the courthouse.
• The board approved action to solicit proposals from contractors to waterproof the mechanical room at the courthouse.
• Supervisor Joe Oswald gave an update on the new JETS sign for their building in Monticello. The aluminum sign will measure 4-by-10 feet, and contain the name of the JETS parent company, Corridor Rides. The sign will be attached to the front of the building.
The project comes at a cost of around $600, including installation.
• The board approved a bid letting of May 14 to receive bids on a new motor grader for Secondary Roads.
• The board approved a contract with Vogel Traffic Services for pavements in the county and the cities of Monticello and Anamosa for a total of $80,007.95.