Lancaster County approves $1.21 million bridge replacement, extends CJIS contract with $1 million increase

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on July 14 approved a $1,213,107.10 contract with JJK Construction LLC to replace Bridge X-084 and remove Bridge C-262, and adopted a consent package that included a $1,000,000 increase to the Don’t Panic Labs LLC contract for improvements to the City-County Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) platform.

County Engineer Pam Dingman presented a map showing the X-084 structure and said removing Bridge C-262 — located on Rock Creek Road near Northwest 17th and 18th Streets — had been evaluated previously and was found to be more cost-effective than replacement; access will be maintained by constructing a roadway around the drainageway. Dingman also said the bridge project has about $350,000 in County Bridge Match grant funding already accepted for construction.

Commissioner Chelsea Johnson moved approval of the JJK Construction contract and Commissioner Sean Flowerday seconded. The roll call vote was 4–0 in favor; Commissioner Matt Schulte was absent.

The bridge award followed the Board’s approval of a multi-item consent package that included contract amendments and renewals. Among those was an amendment increasing the Don’t Panic Labs LLC contract by $1,000,000 and extending the term for continued work on the City-County CJIS platform. The consent package also renewed several security and surveillance vendor contracts (not to exceed $250,000 across contracts) and approved routine procurement agreements for plaques, promotional items and right-of-way tree pruning.

Commissioner Rick Vest expressed concern about recent local news reports suggesting reductions in the Engineering Department budget. Dingman responded that this project is funded through the County Bridge Match Program and reiterated the grant funding already accepted for the bridge.

Procedural motions related to these contracts were routine; votes on the bridge contract and the consent package were recorded as approving motions with a 4–0 vote and one member absent. The project’s next steps include contract execution and coordination of construction and removal activities.