Commissioners finalize deal for Clinton Court demolition

The Hancock County Board of Commissioners approved a change order in the contract with A1 Land Development, Rock Creek, for demolition of properties at 321 Clinton Court during a meeting Tuesday. Additional work at the location for removal of concrete and debris, not visible during inspections prior to the bid opening, prompted the company to request the increase in payment. Following negotiations, Steve Wilson, project manager for the county, recommended a change order of about $114,292. The net change is about $60,005 after deduction of about $54,287 for work not done, but included in the original contract. The final contract was for about $243,350 and the work has been completed, with the 4-acre-plus tract now vacant. Flood-reduction money paid for the building removal. Hancock County Auditor Charity Rauschenberg said the flood-reduction account has about $8.8 million of unencumbered funds. The amount is about the estimate for replacement of the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge west of Main Street. The county is expected to seek bids for additional benching work this year on the north bank of the Blanchard River, east of the Main Street bridge. The cost is estimated at $5 million. Separately, the commissioners passed an amendment to a memorandum of agreement with the Maumee Watershed Conservancy District, approved last month. Mannik and Smith Group, Maumee, will complete an archaeological assessment of the north side of the river bank, east of the Main Street bridge, to the Dr. Martin Luther King Way overpass near Clinton Court. The commissioners approved the agreement last month and will pay $60,685 for the work. Also, lease agreements for office space in the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles building, owned by the county, were extended through June 30, 2023. There was no change in the agreements. Two additional leases, for space in the building, are still being prepared and will be presented later. Rauschenberg and Adam Witteman, fiscal service administrator, reviewed the 2020 finances with the commissioners, explaining existing debt and expenses, with upcoming projects such as Dalzell Ditch repairs, estimated at $700,000. This work is also being funded with flood-reduction money. Maurer: 419-427-8420