JASPER, Tenn. – A project to connect State Highway 150 and State Highway 28 is moving forward, but it’s going to cost Jasper more money than officials first thought.
At the April meeting of the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen, Mayor Paul Evans said the construction services contract needs to be amended to provide an inspector during the remaining utilities relocation.
“We haven’t had the manpower to do this, so that is what this is all about,” he said.
The inspection job would “only be a half-time thing,” Evans said, while several qualified city officials would fill in as inspector the rest of the time.
The board voted unanimously to fund the position for $24,000.
Gary Cosby, an engineer with CTI Engineers Inc., said most of the items required on the job would be reimbursed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
“What is not reimbursable is some of the items we’re adding on,” he said. “They’ll pay for pretty much everything like design, surveys, and construction administration. The thing they won’t pay for is inspection.”
Under the terms of Jasper’s contract with TDOT, the town is obligated to provide inspection.
During the utility relocation, Cosby said, the town is refunded only for the percentage of utility lines put on private property compared to the total length of the utilities.
“Only a small amount” of the lines are being repositioned onto private property, he said.
“That’s just their rules on it, yet [Jasper] has to provide inspection on it,” Cosby said. “Somebody’s got to be there to watch all of it. It’s just what we’ve got to do up there.”
The utility relocation started about a month ago and will probably continue for at least two more months, officials said.
TDOT’s plan to unite the two highways has changed several times during the planning phase, but with those details now finalized, the project will rearrange the intersection where Highway 150, Betsy Pack Drive and Valley View Highway meet.
Highway 150 will be extended until it connects with Highway 28 on the other side of Jasper.
Alderman Paul West questioned whether the additional expenses the board approved would be “the end of the whole thing.”
“We’re hoping,” Evans said after a pause. “We’re trying to keep it down to a minimum as far as expenses that aren’t reimbursable.”
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.