March 29, 2024

County to address township roadways

Ten county townships will receive rock on the roadways through contracted work in 2018.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Bruening Rock Products, Inc. of Decorah on Tuesday to supply up to 7,000 tons per township for a maximum contract cost of just more than $1 million.

The townships addressed this season are in the northeast section of the county and include Hickory Grove, Mariposa, Malaka, Independence, Clear Creek, Poweshiek, Sherman, Newton, Kellogg and Rock Creek Township.

“About four years ago we started looking at contract-only as a means to get rock out faster and possibly more efficiently,” county engineer Russ Stutt said. “In 2016, we did four townships to gauge the prices we were going to get. Last year, we did six townships with the end goal being to do 10 townships in the county every other year.”

Stutt said the county sent out the bid packages early this year to get a better idea of costs before budget time. The prices came in at an average of $14.43 per ton, which Stutt said was excellent.

“The average price per ton is 48 cents higher than last year and that was in the southeast quadrant,” Stutt said. “To only go up 48 cents for the north, which is a much longer haul route, is really good.”

The county originally priced out 5,000 tons per township for a total of $721,460, which was in line with the amount spent in 2017. With the prices the county received, Stutt said he plans on pushing the maximum amount in 2018 at a total of 7,000 tons per township at just more than $1 million.

“Last year, in price comparison, it looks like we are going to spend the same or another $300,000 and we are going to get another four townships,” supervisor Doug Cupples said.

Stutt said the planned start date for distribution is June 19 with 20 working days scheduled based on the 5,000-ton estimate. With the anticipated addition of 2,000 tons per township, more working days will need to be added to the schedule for the crews. Stutt said he also could see work beginning before the current start date although he doesn’t want them out too soon because of potential damage to the roads.

“I was very happy,” Stutt said. “This is the happiest I have been.”

In other business:

• The board approved the quarterly report for Veterans Affairs.

• Appointments were made for the Mid Iowa Development Board, Animals Rescue League, Central Iowa Region Housing Authority, Enterprise Zone, Newton Benefited Fire District, West Malaka Benefited Fire District, Grinnell Airport Zoning Commission, Library Board and Compensation Commission.

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