City OKs bid for more streetscape work

A Highland firm which was one of the major players in streetscape improvements for four blocks in downtown Vandalia has been picked for similar improvements in a fifth block.
Mettler Development of Highland submitted the lowest of six bids that the city received for streetscape improvements on Gallatin Street between Seventh and Eighth streets.
Lorne Jackson of HMG Engineers of Carlyle, the project engineer, produced the bid tabulations, which included Mettler’s bid of $346,563.37.
That bid, Jackson pointed out, is lower than the engineer’s estimate of $362,451.50.
The project calls for improvements in the 700 block of West Gallatin similar to those completed last year in the one-block sections of Gallatin between Kennedy Boulevard (Third Street) and Seventh Street.
The facts of the project include removal of the existing brick, concrete and asphalt pavement and sidewalk; construction of a new storm sewer, curbs and gutters; and decorative items such as brick pavers, and decorative period street lights and signs.
The project as bid also included flowering dogwood trees like those in the other four blocks of Gallatin Street, but those trees will likely be pulled from the project.
That’s because Alderman Jerry Swarm said he favored not planting the trees, and other alderman agreed with him.
“I cannot see messing with the trees if they aren’t going to hold up any better than that,” Swarm said.
Swarm was making reference to the fact that a number of the trees planted in the 300, 400, 500 and 600 blocks of Gallatin died, and new trees had to be planted.
Jackson said the trees “do require some maintenance,” but Swarm said that city workers don’t have time to take care of the trees.
Alderman Neil Clark supported Swarm. “I agree with Alderman Swarm – it’s an ongoing expense.”
Mayor Rick Gottman pointed out that the bid total also includes just under $21,000 worth of work that will be done for and paid by Fayette County.
The city agreed to include in the project a renovation of the north driveway for the county’s courthouse and jail parking lot.
Those two adjustments to the project total had city officials supporting improvements to the roadway at the intersection of Gallatin and Eighth streets.
Gottman said the plan calls for the project to be done in 45 working days, and Mettler’s bid document includes a completion date of Nov. 18.
One change that Gottman said – repeatedly – that he would like to see is the fee charged by HMG Engineers.
The budgeted fee of $50,000 “is way out of line,” Gottman said, repeatedly noting that he wants the firm to see what it can do about lowering that amount.
Alderman Andy Lester suggested to Jackson that he work with the general contractor to review the number of days an HMG engineer must be on-site.
Jackson explained that Illinois Department of Transportation regulations stipulate that an engineer must be present when work is being done, and said the engineer’s daily fee is $750.
The project is to be fully funded with $400,000 in state grant funds procured by state Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and former state Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Highland).
Gottman has stated a number of times in recent months that the city will not use any of its funds for the improvements.