Calhoun Commissioners choose engineer for Poor Farm Hollow project
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By Carmen Ensinger
The Calhoun Commissioners met for their monthly meeting Monday afternoon, but it was a meeting that almost didn’t take place for lack of a quorum.
At the scheduled 5 p.m. meeting time, only Board Chairman Terry Woelfel and Commissioner Phil Robeen were in attendance. After waiting approximately 10 minutes, they were able to get Commissioner Kim Klaas to join the phone via the phone, which allowed them to proceed with the meeting. Klaas physically came to the meeting at approximately 6 p.m.
Road Commissioner Kyle Godar informed the board that because the County was using revolving loan money to repair the Poor Farm Road, they are required to do a Qualified Based Selection on the engineer.
Godar sent out proposals and received two responses – one from Meco and one from Henneghan and Associates.
“The criteria for selection is based on several different things including experience, size of company, past performance and quality and geographic location,” Godar said. “I sent it to you so you could give some input if you wanted to but it is not something the board has to do. We could score it together or if you want me to, I could give you my recommendation.”
Commissioner Robeen said they would be more than happy to let Godar make the recommendation.
Godar said he anticipated that and he had already done the scoring.
“The first area of scoring was experience with this type of project,” Godar said. “I gave Meco a 30 out of 40 and Henneghan a 20 because Meco has more highway experience but Henneghan has more experience with drainage related issues.”
Under experience with other projects, Meco scored an 8 and Henneghan 10, mostly because Meco is primarily in Missouri and not in Illinois. As for their size, both are similar in size and not really very large.
Past performance and quality is where Meco scored the lowest – a 2 compared to an 8 for Henneghan.
“I have never worked with Meco, so I had to score them a 2,” Godar said. “I have worked with Henneghan quite a bit
on different projects so I had to give them the higher score in this category.”
Geographic location is also another advantage Henneghan had over Meco. Meco, which scored a 2, is located in Missouri while Henneghan, which scored an 8, is located in Jerseyville.
“They are a local company with local people working for them,” Godar said. “Plus, I have worked with them before and they know our area.”
At the end of the day, Meco scored a 50 and Henneghan scored a 56. Robeen asked Godar if he was comfortable with them for this particular roadway project.
“Yes, because they have more sewer related and storm related experience versus simple roadway,” Godar said. “I don’t think we have a complex roadway here, so I don’t think the complexity is too high for them to handle. A lot of the problem is drainage related, which is their specialty, so I think they should be fine.”
The board unanimously selected Henneghan to perform the project at Poor Farm Hollow.
The board had a visitor – Attorney Keisha Morris, Clerk for the Village of Hamburg. Morris has worked as the Chief Public Defender for Pike County since 2009.
“I just wanted to introduce myself in case you didn’t know who I was and let you know that I was interested in the States Attorney position for Calhoun County,” Morris said. “Rick (Ringhausen) hinted about retiring and if he does it sounds like it will be prior to the next election and an appointment will have to be made.”
Morris said she fully intends to run for the position at the next election.
“I just wanted to let you know I was here and interested in the position now as the time to make a decision will be here before you know it,” she said. “I don’t know how many candidates have been putting their name before you but I would be willing to leave my position in Pike to take the appointment whenever Mr. Ringhausen does retire.”
The board approved the Extension building lighting incentive through Ameren and Jarvis Electric out of Swansea. Per the contract, the County will receive $1,599.30 of lighting in the Extension building with the total cost to the county being only $300. Ameren will pick up the remainder and Jarvis Electric will be doing the work.
