MENTONE – The town of Mentone is moving closer to getting a storm sewer fixed as the Town Council approved a quote Wednesday to get it fixed.
The section of storm sewer to be fixed is 315 feet of pipe in an alley between Franklin and Walnut streets, south of Monroe and north of Jefferson streets.
The Council received three bids at their September meeting, but tabled a decision until Wednesday.
James Emans, town engineer, said he reviewed the quotes and the lowest bidder did not respond with all the information that was required, so he recommended that quote not be considered.
A critical component that was missing was an acknowledgement of an addendum the town put out that changed the bid form format to include price and a start date because Emans said “we had reason to believe that materials were to be difficult to get and he failed to provide that information.”
Emans recommended going with G&G Hauling & Excavating.
Emans said he is aware of G&G’s abilities and believes they are more than responsible to do the work.
G&G provided two quotes. The higher of the two quotes was for $113,000. With that quote, Emans said, G&G would not be able to start the work for at least four months because the material is not available.
The lower of the two quotes is $92,606.90 and G&G can start work within a month of award, Emans said. He was in contact with G&G and said they’re holding true to that and could possibly beat the start date estimate.
Emans reminded the Council it was an emergency repair since the storm sewer has failed and is no longer working.
The Council approved the quote from G&G at $92,606.90.
Emans said he will contact G&G with the Council’s decision and will get back to them about the schedule of when the work will start.
Emans also gave an update on the NIPSCO gas line that is also in the alley that has to be removed prior to work on the storm sewer.
Emans said he talked with Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd and he said NIPSCO is advancing that work and the gas line should be out of the way within a week or so and then the storm sewer project can move forward.
He said he and Shepherd are concerned because once the pipe is put in, and they can see what’s going on west of Walnut, they might see issues with the pipe beyond the section they’re putting in.
As a heads up, Emans said the Council might have Shepherd coming back to them saying there are more issues.
In other business:
• A budget hearing will be Friday at 6:30 p.m.
• The Council approved a quote from Custom Fencing at $2,870 for a gate at the water plant.
• Learned the Mentone Chamber of Commerce’s trick-or-treating will Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a costume judging contest at 7:30 p.m. at Mentone Elementary School.
• Councilman Tim Croy said he had a conversation with Tippecanoe Valley High School Principal Brandon Kresca.
The high school is going to have a freshman day of giving on Wednesday. Croy said the freshmen are going to meet up with him and find some projects to do in Mentone. They want to do projects outside due to COVID-19, so Croy said he is going to set them up with some lawns in the morning, and they can do work in Akron in the afternoon.
