Jasper County working with Polk for a culvert replacement

A deteriorating box culvert will be replaced using a 28E agreement with Polk County. The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved the partnership Tuesday to replace the aging infrastructure.

The culvert is located three miles north of Highway 163 on the county line between Jasper and Polk counties. Assistant to the engineer Pam Olson said representatives from Polk County approached Jasper County about the agreement.

“This is a section of road that Polk County takes care of, that is why they instigated the 28E agreement,” Olson said. “It is also only 20 feet long, it is 4-by-6-by-20 feet. A lot of times the roadway will tend to cave off as we have issues with them.”

Built in 1913, it has had a lot of issues including a tendency for the roadway to cave off. Polk County proposed putting in a 72-inch in diameter corrugated metal pipe 66 feet in length that will allow the area to have slopes.

“They will do inspection, engineering, everything at their cost. The only thing we share cost in is the actual cost of the products,” Olson said.

The estimated total cost is $50,000 with each county paying half or $25,000. When work is completed, the county will only pay the amount of the actual costs, should they be less than $25,000, but no more than $25,000 total.

The project is planned for fiscal year 2018, leaving plenty of time for the county to budget it.

“They are very good about that,” Olson said. “When we look at something it is always the next proceeding budget year unless it is an emergency.”

Supervisor Joe Brock asked Olson who is responsible for the maintenance of the road. She said Polk County does the maintenance of the top portion of the roadway and the west side of the road. Jasper County is responsible for the east side.

“If it falls in the ditch area then we take care of our own side,” Olson said.

Olson said she thought Polk County would be doing the work in house, not taking it out to bid.

In other business:

Margot Voshell was reappointed to the Jasper County Board of Health. The Fifth Judicial Department of Corrections board will be filled by supervisor Denny Carpenter with supervisor Doug Cupples as the alternate. Cupples will serve on the Grinnell Airport Zoning Commission. Carpenter will serve on the Heartland Resource Conservation board with Brock as the alternate. Cupples will serve on the Heart of Iowa Regional Transport board with Brock as the alternate. Carpenter will remain on the IMPACT board with Brock as the alternate. Carpenter will be on the Aging Resources board with Cupples as the alternate. Cupples is appointed to the Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center board with Brock as the alternate. Carpenter will continue on the Central Iowa Regional Transport board with Russ Stutt as the alternate. Chaz Allen will remain on the Central Iowa Tourism board with Dan Badger as the alternate. Jody Eaton will continue on the Central Iowa Recovery board with Brock as the alternate. Kari Van Zante will continue serving on the Des Moines Recreational River and Greenbelt Advisory Council. Eaton will also be on the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com