Allender Road bridge contract, vendor awards and storm-drain work head commissioners' consent agenda

COWLITZ COUNTY — Public Works staff briefed the board on a slate of consent agenda items covering annual bid calls, professional services and construction contracts highlighted by an Allender Road bridge project funded entirely with federal bridge funds.

County Engineer Susan Eugenis said the Allender Road Bridal (bridge) project received 13 bids and staff is recommending execution of a contract with the lowest bidder at approximately $1,600,000. Eugenis said the federal bridge program will fund the work at 100%.

Eugenis also described a recommended personal-services agreement with Gray & Osborne to provide assistance with the municipal separate stormwater (MS4) permit through Dec. 31, 2028, with a not-to-exceed amount of $120,000. She said the county evaluated statements of qualifications, interviewed finalists and selected Gray & Osborne based on that process.

Finance Director Sean Rowe previewed a contract execution for Advanced Electrical Technologies for on-call electrical services at the county headquarters landfill: a one-year contract not to exceed $150,000 with a possible one-year extension. Rowe said the item follows a prior request-for-bid and December award.

Eugenis also reviewed two related items concerning emergency repairs on Sweet Birch: rescinding the emergency declaration for the storm-drain damage and issuing a completion letter to Advanced Excavating Specialist. She reported the total cost of the work at $141,988.85 and said contractors were mobilizing on Barnes Drive to complete remaining tasks.

Eugenis described schedule constraints: after contract execution the contractor has until a stated calendar date to begin work and the project is expected to run about 200 workdays. Work that does not involve in-water pier removal (which will require a fish-window) can proceed during preconstruction mobilization and temporary-bridge installation so that properties are not landlocked.