COLUMBUS, Ind. — For more than 30 years, local officials have been trying to find a way to upgrade sewer, water and electrical service at the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds.
If all goes as planned, construction on the long-awaited infrastructure project will begin in early spring, with completion expected before the annual fair begins on June 24.
A lack of funding has always been cited as the reason why a sanitary sewer service, electrical pedestals and water upgrades have not yet been installed at the fairgrounds south of Garden City.
But the more than $16 million the county is receiving in federal dollars through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) made the project affordable, county Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said late last year.
In December, the county hired local engineering and consulting firm Strand and Associates for general engineering services on the fairgrounds project. The contract was capped at a maximum $84,000.
Strand engineer Steve Ruble told the commissioners Monday the planned development and technical specifications, created in conjunction with fair board president Rick Trimpe, are far enough along that it is now time to seek bids for the project.
Bids will be advertised twice this month before the deadline to submit bids arrives on March 7, commissioners Chairman Carl Lienhoop said. Figures released by the Bartholomew County Auditor’s office state that $500,000 of the federal ARP money has been earmarked for the project.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
