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Conservation board tables action on Green Castle campground

Lone bid comes in almost $340k over estimate

T-R FILE PHOTO The Marshall County Conservation Board tabled the lone bid for the construction of a 14-site campground at Green Castle Recreation Area, pictured, during Monday night’s meeting after it came in almost $340,000 over the engineer’s estimate.

The long-gestating plans for a large campground at Green Castle Recreation Area in southeastern Marshall County will have to wait a bit longer after the county’s conservation board tabled action on accepting a construction bid during Monday night’s monthly meeting.

Con-Struct of Marshalltown submitted the lone bid on the project, which would create 14 campsites as the first phase of a larger plan to eventually build 60 sites, at a total cost of $1,012,157.50.

Matt Garber of Clapsaddle-Garber Associates broke down the bid for the board, noting that the price was higher than expected across all aspects of the project and calling it “shocking” from his perspective. Garber did not believe prices would go down anytime soon with the current supply chain situation and the cost of fuel.

“It’s just kind of a sign of the times I guess,” Garber said.

As Conservation Director Mike Stegmann explained, a campsite at Green Castle has been on the county’s radar for at least a decade, but adequate funding could not be secured until dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) became available. In December, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors authorized Stegmann to move forward with the project at an estimated cost of $678,000.

Garber explained a few options like replacing copper with aluminum and uncased boring to reduce the overall cost and informed the board of its potential next steps, including modifying the plans and specs and rebidding the project or working with Con-Struct in hopes of bringing the price tag down to a more reasonable number.

“I just don’t have much to add. I mean it just knocks your socks off,” conservation board member Tom Mack said. “I can understand as a bidder that you’re not going out there to lose money. But boy, that’s a lot of money.”

Stegmann said the ARPA funds will allow the board ample time to review the project and modify the bid package if needed, and the Con-Struct bid is good for 60 days. An eventual motion to table action passed by a 4-0 vote (Steve Armstrong was absent), and Garber told the board he would work with Con-Struct to find more cost savings before the April meeting.

Later in the meeting, the board set a public hearing on a public hearing and bid letting for the Three Bridges suspension bridge replacement for April 11 at 5 p.m. The cost estimate on that project is $287,000, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will cover 75 percent of the expense. The remaining $71,773.25 would be the county’s responsibility.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board:

• Approved the after hours use of the Grimes Farm property on June 25-26 for an Amateur Radio Relay League.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255

or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.

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