BALDWIN COUNTY COMMISSION
MINUTES
MARCH 8, 2007
BALDWIN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
BAY MINETTE, ALABAMA

Members present were Frank Burt, Jr., David E. Bishop, Charles F. Gruber and Wayne A. Gruenloh, Chairman.

Also present were Michael L. Thompson, County Administrator and J. Scott Barnett, Chief Counsel.

(E22) - CONTRACT FOR I-10 SERVICE ROAD FROM US HIGHWAY 98 TO STATE ROAD 181

In an effort to support a proposed project of an Interstate 10 service road between US-98 and SR-181, the County Highway Department has committed to become the lead agency for project coordination. Upon taking this responsibility, an engineering design consultant (Carter-Burgess) for the service road is to be retained. The County Highway Department will negotiate the terms of a contract with the consultant for the preliminary engineering work for the proposed service road to include the following items; redesign of interstate Interchange, environmental documents, survey, service road design, geotechnical study, right of way map, deeds, and sketches.

Commissioner Gruber said the quote from Carter-Burgess was for $695,784.00 and the County recommendation has the cost at $526,199.00. Why is there a difference in the prices?

Cal Markert, County Engineer appeared before the Commission and said in the beginning of the projects it was unclear if the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) was going to redesign the interchange or if the County was going to have to pay for the redesign. Commissioner Burt and Mr. Markert went to Montgomery and ALDOT had agreed to pay for the design of the interchange. That cost difference is coming out and going back to ALDOT. ALDOT will handle the redesigning of the interchange, but they will send the County an agreement for the County to pay ALDOT back for it.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BURT, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRUBER TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND CARTER-BURGESS FOR THE SURVEY AND DESIGN OF AN I-10 SERVICE ROAD FROM U.S. HIGHWAY 98 TO STATE ROUTE 181 UPON APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER. THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE AS NEGOTIATED BY THE COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT UPON FURTHER KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT WITH A CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $526,199.00.

UNANIMOUS.