VBT Board wary of trusting Wayne County

A resolution to approve a paving contract with Fiore Enterprises for Walden Woods as part of the Wayne County Local Road Initiative program was pulled from the agenda of Tuesday’s Van Buren Township meeting.
Fiore’s low bid was $214,646.80. The engineer’s estimate for the project was $240,000.
At Monday’s work/study session, the board discussed at length the request by Director of Planning and Economic Development Ron Aker to approve a contract for roadwork there “contingent on approval from Wayne County.”
Akers said the $750,000 agreement with Wayne County for the Local Road Initiative that pays 80% of two township projects, was approved in June, but in late August the county wanted changes in the insurance part of the agreement and the full county board never approved the intergovernmental agreement.
He said it should be before the full board of the county commission on Oct. 15. He said all the other townships taking part in the initiative already received approval and there is money available for the VBT projects.
He said the county does not allow asphalt paving after Nov. 15 and the plants close, so he wanted it on the Oct. 6 VBT agenda.
Verdeterre, the contractor approved for the road work on the other project on Dewitt, Jeanette, and Venetian, doesn’t want to start later than Oct. 15, Akers said.
Verdeterre was approved as the contractor for the Dewitt, Jeanette, and Venetian project and then, when the county changed the insurance requirement, Verdeterre complied on its own.
Supervisor Linda Combs said she is hesitant to start without the county’s money in hand, but, “We’ve got residents who’ve waited a long time” for the roadwork.
“Where are we left if we don’t get it?” asked Trustee Reggie Miller, referring to the county’s money.
Supervisor Combs said she called Judge Kaufman, the county’s Deputy CEO, and asked for something in writing and, “Our calls were not returned.”
When asked how long it takes for a contractor to start after approval of the contract, engineering consultant Dave Nummer said it typically would be a couple of weeks.
Akers said it was his understanding that if the project wasn’t done this year it could be done in the spring.
“I agree with Trustee Miller,” said Trustee Jeff Jahr. “There’s no sense in sticking our neck out a mile.”
“I had a problem at the beginning with us getting in the middle,” Trustee Jahr said. “It’s not our project. It really should be Wayne County’s project.”
“Wayne County has financial problems,” pointed out Trustee Brenda McClanahan, adding the township doesn’t want to get stuck.
“We’re jumping through hoops and drop-dead deadlines are shifting,” Jahr said.
Nummer said the work in Walden Woods is concrete and the Dewitt, Venetian, Jeanette work is asphalt.
After more discussion the board agreed to pull it from Tuesday’s agenda and set up a special meeting for Oct. 15, after the commission meeting, to approve the projects once the money is assured.