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County Board approves courthouse project bid

Posted March 27, 2015 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- The project to repair the Randolph County Courthouse steps took a step forward on Friday, as the Randolph County Board of Commissioners approved a bid from Empire Earth and Concrete Company that will replace the handicap ramps, steps and add nine security bollards.

"The ramps don't meet (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements," said Quadrant Design Inc. Architect Michael Schneider, who was in attendance at the meeting. "They are too steep and don't have landings. The handrails don't meet ADA requirements either."

In regard to the bollards, which are short, vertical posts used to control or direct traffic, Board Chairman Marc Kiehna said they were part of a discussion on courthouse security.

"We need to protect the front of the courthouse from vehicles coming up the steps and into the courthouse," he said.

Empire Earth and Concrete, of Coulterville, was the lowest of six bidders with a base bid of $45,757.89 - excluding the ramps. After a brief discussion, the commissioners agreed to include colored concrete in the project as well as do the ramps, steps and bollards at one time.

Total cost will be $93,090.89 after an additional $943 was included to add an extra bollard, eight had originally been planned, to protect the courthouse's natural gas meter.

The color of the concrete has not yet been determined.

"We are exceeding the original grant by $17,000 to $18,000, but I think it will be best to do the entire project at one time instead of piecing it out," Kiehna said.

The county had previously received a $75,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to help with the cost of the project.

"I recommend we put color in the concrete," said Empire Earth and Concrete Owner Tim Wildermuth, who was in attendance at the meeting. "If you put it on top, it is more susceptible to erosion."

White also gave his opinion on the decision to go with colored concrete, which the front of the courthouse already has, again. The color will be added to the concrete when it is wet instead of an overlay.

Colored concrete added $3,104 to the cost of the project.

"We know money's tight, but this is something that will be there for a long time," White said.

Wildermuth said there is a six-week lead time for the bollards and handrails. He expects the project to be completed in June.

"I have to come in and get the ramps in right away so the handrails can be done," he said. "There may be a couple of weeks where it looks like we have stopped."

In other board action, the commissioners approved a resolution and two ordinances brought forward by Circuit Clerk Sherry Johnson.

The resolution authorized the increasing of certain fees and increased the fees for filing of a motion to vacate or modify any final judgement or order of the court from $20 to $30.

The two ordinances increase the fee for court automation from $5 to $25 and increases the document storage fee by the same amount.

Exceptions are traffic/conservation/local ordinance ($15), small claims ($10), adoptions ($5) and cases with a statutory exemption from fees. The fee increases are the maximum allowable under state statute and begin taking effect on April 1.

"I hate to ask for an increase in my fees, but I'm trying to look out for my office," Johnson said. "A lot of my money comes from the general fund. It does go toward the operation of my office."

The funds - which are to help with the costs of maintaining a record-keeping and document storage system - raised by the two ordinances will be retained by Treasurer Justin Jeffers in special accounts designated solely for their specific uses.

Commissioner David Holder asked Johnson if the fee increases were comparable with other counties.

"Even with this being the maximum amount, our fees are very much in line with other counties," Johnson said. "I feel the fees need to be increased to build these funds back up."

Additionally, the commissioners heard a presentation from Randolph County E-911 Coordinator Cindy Wagner regarding 911 and telecommunication devices. The full presentation is included with this report.

Roundup:

Randolph County Care Center Administrator Ken Slavens reported the Care Center had 62 residents. General assistance claims for the period were $2,754.88.

The next meeting of the Board of Commissioners is April 10 at 10 a.m. at the Randolph County Courthouse.

The commissioners approved two appointments to the Sparta Community Airport Authority Board. Mike Schmitz was reappointed to a five-year term, while Wayne Eldridge was appointed to replace Jeffers, who was elected treasurer in November.

Also, the commissioners approved a map amendment for Dave Goetting for a 34.82 acre tract along Route 154 near Red Bud. The property is being zoned from agriculture to commercial.

Highway Department

Randolph County engineer Mike Riebeling presented bids for resurfacing a three-and-a-half mile stretch of Shawneetown Trail from Route 3 to Palestine Road.

E.T. Simonds of Carbondale was the lowest of two bidders with a bid of $732,949. The commissioners approved a resolution to appropriate $450,000 in motor fuel tax funds toward the project, with the remainder being paid in local funds.

The project is expected to start in mid-April.

Holder asked Riebeling if County Road 18, which runs in front of the World Shooting and Recreational Complex near Sparta, was on the "wish list" for repair. Riebeling estimated the project would be between $3 million and $4 million.

"I've been talking to our state legislatures about if there is a state construction program, we would like to be a part of it," Riebeling said. "I'm not confident."

Riebeling said the county would need outside help to make the project possible.

"We can't pay for it," he said.

Health Department

The commissioners approved a proclamation designating the week of April 6 to 12 as Randolph County National Public Health Week.

According to the proclamation, over the past 25 years, U.S. life expectancy has increased, but at a slower rate than other countries and studies have shown the U.S. has a lower life expectancy than comparable countries.

"A lot of the disparity has to do with what we do to ourselves," said Health Department Administrator Thomas Smith. "Exercise, eat healthy."

Special Meeting

On March 23, the Board of Commissioners met in executive session to discuss a personnel matter, but Kiehna said no action was taken.

"We had a short meeting," said Kiehna in a phone interview with the Herald Tribune. "We went into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.

"We wanted to follow the law and give public notice of a closed-session meeting. No action was taken and that's all I can say about that."

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