Engineer readies early phase work of Liberty Avenue yard

Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch presented a number of action items to the board of supervisors on Dec. 6 that cover more details into the early phase work of the Liberty Avenue yard project, which — once completed — will give engineer’s office staff a new place to work and store materials and equipment.

Supervisors set public hearing dates for the schematic plans for the truck shed of the Liberty Avenue yard project. The hearings were set during the regular board meetings at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 20, 27 and Jan. 3 in the supervisors chambers of the county courthouse. The plans are prepared by FRK Architects and Engineers.

“Basically we’ll approve those schematic plans hopefully on the 20th and then be able to turn around and give those over to the construction managers that are looking at their pre-construction fee proposals,” Frietsch said of the agenda item, which passed in a 2-0 vote.

Frietsch also presented a change order. One of the items the engineer’s office was going to worry about doing later on was re-spreading topsoil onto the basin areas and long the area north of where the Phase 1 yard is. Des Moines-based excavating contractor McAninch Corporation recommended doing it sooner.

McAninch Corporation provided a change order for more than $34,629, bringing the total earthwork contract up to more than $220,420. It was approved 2-0.

“This is still below what the second lowest bidder was on the project,” Frietsch said. “And it really will save us additional mobilization later on. If we have any issues with not getting the structures built then this is a loose end that gets done now and we don’t have to go back to it later on.”

Newton News previously reported McAninch Corporation submitted the low bid of $185,791 to do the earthwork for the new secondary roads yard.

The yard will be constructed behind the sheriff’s office along Liberty Avenue.

Supervisors finished off the engineer’s agenda items by approving a proposal from geotechnical engineering firm TEAM Services to conduct soil sampling at the new site. The soil samples will give the county a better idea of the soil types in the area and what the foundation requirements will be for structures built there.

TEAM Services provided Jasper County with a fee of $6,250 to conduct the soil sampling. Frietsch had budgeted $10,000 for this work.

“This is part of the design process, if you will, for this project,” Frietsch said. “…I’ve used TEAM Services before in the Quad Cities office so I’ve very familiar with TEAM Services. This is a reputable firm so I’m not at all concerned about the fact that we’re going with TEAM. They’re a reasonable cost.”