The Community Crossings projects in the City of Knox are complete, according to Street Superintendent Jeff Borg. He told the Knox Board of Works members Wednesday morning that the mill and fill and asphalt overlay projects are done.
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It’s almost the end of December and the City of Knox Street Department is continuing to pick up leaves.
Crews are working on the Knox downtown street design.
The Knox Street Department has gone through a lot of its salt supply to help clear roads this winter.
According Street Superintendent Jeff Borg, the city has experienced 12 snow events that have amounted to 26 inches of snow. That statistic is from Dec. 9, 2017 to today. As a result, 70 tons of the 100 tons of road salt was used to help clear roads as contracted from the State of Indiana cooperative. The city can purchase up to 120 tons as part of the agreement.
The Knox City Street Department is ready for winter. Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works members last week that the city has plenty of salt to start of the winter season due to last year’s mild winter.
The Knox City Street Department will be extending leaf pickup next week.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works on Wednesday that leaves have fallen but they’re waiting for residents to have the time to rake them and place them along the front of properties along the street.
The City of Knox was recently awarded $455,559.61 in Community Crossings grant funds. Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Knox Board of Public Works members on Wednesday morning that the city’s match is $151,853.17 which will complete four priority projects.
INDOT funds 75 percent of the projects to help with the purchase of materials for the projects. It is the goal of INDOT to help build and improve Indiana’s infrastructure.
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning where the members will receive information on the cleanup or renovation efforts at 301 N. Shield Street and 6 N. Pearl Street.
The board heard from Lucia Valladares during their last meeting in August where she discussed the progress on renovation efforts on the home at 6 N. Pearl Street. She said she would be hiring a business to help with the demolition portion of the proposed project. She plans on focusing on the exterior part of the building this year. Her plan is to demolish two side additions and the back porch, reinforce the foundation, put up siding, replace the roof and construct a new addition. She anticipates the exterior work to be complete by winter.
It’s been a rainy summer season which has created a problem of tall grass and weeds within the Knox city limits.
Director of Building, Planning and Code Enforcement Kenny Pfost told the Knox Board of Public Works this week that he’s sent out 14 enforcement infractions due to tall grass and weeds. He said a lot of property owners have complied but it’s been an issue this summer.
The deadline to apply for the 50/50 sidewalk program in Knox is in one month.
The program allows the cost of sidewalk replacement to be split between the homeowner and the City of Knox. The idea is to make areas safer in Knox and to allow better access for those who rely on wheelchairs in order to be mobile.
The salt shed is full, and the Knox City Street Department is ready for the next snow event.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Board of Public Works members on Wednesday that they had used 80 percent of their contract for salt. Since January, 32 inches of movable snow has been recorded by the street superintendent. He said the department should be good for the rest of the season, and all equipment has been maintained and updated.
The Knox Board of Public Works met Monday morning where quotes were opened for a cab and chassis plus equipment for a truck for the street department.
The board members approved the lowest quote for the cab and chassis for a 2016 International from Wiers International for $64,143.75 and an equipment quote from Lindco Equipment for $54,665 that includes hydraulics, salt spreader, plow, electrical, dump body, and hoist system. The quotes will be reviewed by Street Superintendent Jeff Borg and City Attorney David Matsey.
The Knox Board of Public Works will meet this morning to take care of end-of-the-year business.
The board will open and review sealed quotes for purchase of a truck and bed for the street department. Street Superintendent Jeff Borg said previously that he will be ordering more parts for the new truck as money is available.
Knox crews are making the transition into the fall and winter seasons.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Board of Works members this week that crews are prepping the leaf vac for leaf pickup beginning Oct. 14. The street sweeper will be operation for just a little while longer before they need to winterize the machine for storage during the off season.
Knox Street Department Superintendent Jeff Borg told the Board of Public Works members recently that the price of road salt went up about 50 percent this year.
Borg said the city gets 150 ton of salt and it will cost the city $73.32 a ton in an annual agreement with the state co-op. Last year, the price of road salt was $48.84 and the cost was $7,300. This year the city will be paying $11,000.
The Knox Board of Public Works members opened bids for street paving this week. The lowest bid came from E&B Paving with $91,992.27 as their bid. The highest bid was from Central Paving for $120,000. The board members agreed to accept the lowest conforming bid pending approval from Street Department Superintendent Jeff Borg and City Attorney David Matsey.
The Knox Board of Public Works members approved a bid for the 50/50 sidewalk program in a special meeting on Thursday morning.
The board approved the lowest conforming bid from Covenant Concrete in the amount of $22,395. That includes all 12 properties and the ADA compliant accessible curbs for properties at 55 E. Lake Street, 53 E. Water Street and 707 S. Shield Street. The city is responsible for paying for the ADA accessible curbs.
The Knox Board of Public Works opened bids Thursday for the 50/50 sidewalk program.
There was no quorum, but the bids will be taken under advisement and awarded at a special meeting on May 15.
Two bids were submitted by Pete Kuchel Concrete and Covenant Concrete. The residences that were submitted for bid include 104 S. Pearl St., 703 S. Pearl St., 307 S. Main St., 604 S. Main Street, 703 Delamatyr, 705 E. Washington St., 707 S. Shield St., 102 Water Street, 402 S. Pearl St., 356 E. Mound, 55 Lake Street and 53 E. Water Street.
The Knox Board of Public Works received an update on how things are moving along in the street department.
Street Superintendent Jeff Borg said the traffic light seized again at the intersection of Culver Road and Main Street by the Knox Middle School. The light is obsolete and Borg said it’s getting harder and harder to find parts to repair it. At one time, they got all of the parts they could from the South Bend department as they were going to throw them away. Most of their lights are upgraded.
He said workers are doing roadside tree trimming and crack sealing while the weather is still good. Only 30 dump truck loads of brush were collected this month compared to 54 last month. He added that fall leaf pickup will be starting soon.
