Street resurfacing and surface water drainage on the east side of town were among the matters discussed when the Crothersville Town Council met for their regular June meeting last Tuesday.
Bid proposals were opened for grinding and resurfacing four streets: 1) Moore from US 31 to Preston, 2) Bard Street from US 31 to Seymour Road, 3) Howard Street from US 31 to the railroad, 4) Main Street from US 31 to the railroad.
The following proposals were received:
Sedam Construction of Hanover: 1) $28,860, 2) $17,825, 3) $10,570, 4) $10,680; All 4) $56,250.
Lawyer Excavating of Seymour: 1) $51,238.46, 2) $27,673.02, 3) $26,633.45, 4) $22,695.68; All 4) $102,065.25.
All Star Paving of Seymour: 1) $25,800, 2) $14,680, 3) $12,140, 4) 12,380; All 4) $60,910.
Temple & Temple of Salem: 1) $29,200, 2) $15,300, 3) $8,400, 4) $13,600; All 4) $57,100.
Dave O’Mara of North Vernon: 1) $34,405, 2) $13,865, 3) $14,700, 4) $16,960, All 4) $62,105.
The council took all proposals under advisement deciding to award contracts at their July 2 meeting.
The issue of surface water infiltration along Moore Street into the town’s sanitary sewer was discussed. Water from rainfall gets into the town’s water treatment system line along Moore Street from the east side of Preston east to East Street.
FPBH of North Vernon, the town’s engineering firm, has proposed to draw up design plans to alleviate the problem for $2,340.
“Do you think we will need to get a grant (to complete the project)? questioned councilman Lenvel ‘Butch’ Robinson.
“Oh, I hope it’s not that much,” replied council president Ardell Mitchell later indicating that a preliminary estimate of repair was around $30,000.
“It will be interesting to see what it will cost but I would hate to spend $3,400 and not be able to do the project,” said Robinson.
In the end the council agreed to contract with FPBH to engineer plans for the surface water fix.
In another matter, the council is hoping to re-activate a local parks board to oversee the community’s parks on East Bard Street and Westside Park on County Road 1000 E.
“In the past, previous councils have used the parks board as a work crew at the parks,” said Mitchell. “We are not looking for that. We want some interested individuals to do some planning for the future to improve our parks. Having a parks board makes us eligible for grants from the Department of Natural Resources.”
Park board members do not have to live within the town limits, he noted.
Community residents interested in serving on the parks board should contact the clerk-treasurer at town hall to make their interest known.
In a final matter, town attorney John Rothring announced that he would be retiring in July. Rothring’s Seymour law office was severely damaged by fire earlier this year and the 67-year-old has opted to close his practice and retire.
The council is interviewing two potential legal representatives. Greg Morin of Montgomery, Elsner & Pardieck in Seymour has expressed interest as has Jeff Lorenzo, a former county attorney and attorney for the city of Seymour. His law partner, Susan Bevers currently serves as the attorney for Jackson County.
