Taylor Design Group tapped for project
By CLEON RICKEL, Herald Senior Writer
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On a 3-2 vote, county commissioners picked a local engineering consultant to watch-dog the county's next County Highway Improvement Program project.
Taylor Design Group, Ottawa, won the nod Wednesday to oversee the work.
A special committee reviewed proposals from three engineering consultants, County Administrator Lisa Johnson, a member of the committee, said.
Proposals from Taylor Design Group and BG Consultants, Lawrence, got a second look because they showed a familiarity with the proposed project, she said.
A majority of the committee decided to recommend Taylor Design Group because it was a local firm, she said. The review committee also included Commission Chairwoman Sue Farrell and Jim Haag, county public works director.
Commissioner Don Hay offered a motion to hire BG Consultants. He said he favored the Lawrence company because of past controversies involving commissioners about Taylor Design Group and other county projects.
Farrell seconded Hay. However, Hay’s motion died on a 2-3 vote, with commissioners Roy Dunn, Don Stottlemire and Ed Taylor voting against.
With little comment, the three commissioners voted to select Taylor Design Group.
The consultants will be paid on an hourly basis, Haag said. Haag said he expected that the contract would be worth about $50,000-$60,0000.
The project, formerly known as the 13-Mile Project, has been scaled back because of increased construction costs.
The project will pave Montana Road from Reno to Shawnee roads, and Shawnee Road between Montana and Ohio roads northeast of Ottawa.
The project will be funded from a special state loan fund.
It’s not part of the project but the state and county are sharing costs of upgrading Missouri Road because of the new U.S. 59 expressway project.
Concrete work for a new bridge on Missouri Road has started, Haag said.
Killough Construction has started repair work on a stretch on Sand Creek Road, which has deteriorated because of heavy machinery crossing it as part of the expressway work, he said.
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