CLARINDA, Iowa — A proposal to add a new parking lot and sidewalks at the Page County annex building will wait at least another week after county supervisors requested more clarity before moving forward.
At a regular meeting earlier this week, the Page County Board of Supervisors reviewed an updated plan for the parking and accessibility improvements at the facility located at 210 North 17th Street in Clarinda, which now houses the engineer’s office on its second floor.
Initial plans called for a parking lot on the building’s west side, but that idea was previously shelved due to steep architectural fees. Now, County Technician Nick Heuer says the revised plan incorporates handicap-accessible chairlifts already installed indoors, eliminating the need for external stairs or ramps. The new design would instead utilize the south entrance, with access via West Washington Street.
The proposed plan includes:
- A 4,800-square-foot parking lot paved with six-inch concrete.
- A six-foot-wide sidewalk connecting the parking lot to the street.
- Replacement of all sidewalks around the perimeter and public right-of-way, including six ADA-compliant crossing panels.
Heuer said the county received three bids for the project:
- Barnes and Son Concrete Professionals: ~$56,000 (lowest bid)
- Stickler's Concrete: ~$61,000
- Ten Point Construction: Just over $87,000
Heuer also noted that the county staff could handle the rock and dirt work to reduce costs, and that a sidewalk match grant through the City of Clarinda could cover half the cost of sidewalks running parallel to the streets.
Despite the detailed planning and cost-saving options, a motion to approve the low bid from Barnes and Son died for lack of a second. Supervisor Brian Rogers expressed interest in seeing a line-item breakdown and a clear acknowledgment from the contractor of the desired project specifications.
The board is expected to revisit the proposal at its next regular meeting.