By DAVE SCHULTZ
A pair of engineering studies were approved Tuesday afternoon by the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety.
One of the studies will prepare the city for the second round of Community Crossings match grants in 2023, at a cost of between $79,900 and $102,900.
The other contract approved Tuesday will provide for a drainage study for the Willowbrook subdivision. The cost for that study will be $35,000.
Because Bluffton’s population is now over 10,000, the city must pay 50 percent of the cost of a project submitted to the state for reimbursement out of the Community Crossings program. Previously, the city had to pay 25 percent of the total costs.
The money will be paid to USI Consultants of Indianapolis for its work appraising city streets for improvements using Community Crossings. There are five parts to the company’s plans — mapping, the CCMG applications, final bid documents, bidding services, and construction services. Each part has an estimated number of hours and a fee range.
City Engineer Kelly White called the cost of the study a “high-level estimate” and added that there was some room for negotiation. She said she had nine miles of city streets and roads on the list for USI to look at.
The Willowbrook drainage study will take an overall look at the water problem in the subdivision. Mayor John Whicker was in favor of the study. “This issue has gone on since Willowbrook has been in existence,” he said.
Both of the studies were approved by the members of the Board of Works — Whicker, Scott Mentzer, and Josh Hunt — on a 3-0 vote.
Also Tuesday, the Board of Works gave Street Commissioner Tim Simpson permission to find a replacement for a 30-year-old plow truck in the city’s fleet.
The truck is a 1993 International and Simson said it has “far exceeded its life cycle.” Simpson said he wants to find a new or used truck that will be usable for street painting, hauling material, pulling a leaf machine, and serving as a snow plow. The truck will be drivable by both employees who have a commercial driver’s license and those who do not.
The board approved Simpson’s request.
daves@news-banner.com
