The Starke County Commissioners opened three bids last week for the proposed Community Crossings Matching Grant project this year. The project calls for the resurfacing of 700 E. from State Road 8 to County Road 625 S. in Knox.
Milestone Contractors North, Inc. out of South Bend bid $937,181.76; E&B Paving, Inc. of Rochester bid $844,184.60; and Rieth–Riley Construction Company in La Porte submitted a bid of $845,370.76.
Starke County received about $682,000 for the project from the INDOT’s Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. With expected match money that comes from the county’s CEDIT fund, there will be enough funds to cover all costs of the project.
Highway Superintendent Dan Dipert reviewed the bid documents and found that E&B Paving had the lowest bid, but some paperwork was missing from the bid packet. He said the difference between E&B Paving and the next lowest bid presented by Rieth–Riley was just under $1,200 so he recommended awarding the bid to Rieth–Riley. Dipert said if the commissioners approved that bid then the paperwork could be signed and work can get underway toward the start of the project.
The commissioners approved the bid from Rieth–Riley with a unanimous vote.
