The Delaware County Drainage Board voted to award work to JJC Excavating to complete the Racer Ditch cleanup and deferred a decision on a payment claim from prior contractor Arnold until the board’s next meeting.

Surveyor Tom said he received three quotes to finish the job; the lowest quote to complete the work was from JJC Excavating at $33,528. Tom noted that a prior round of bidding had produced a bid of about $37,000 for completion. "So it appears that the new bid is about 4,000," a board member summarized in discussion, describing that difference as a possible indicator of the portion of work Arnold had completed.

A motion to select JJC Excavating for $33,528 to finish the Racer Ditch cleanup passed on roll call.

Board members also debated how much to pay Arnold for partial work performed. Tom and other members referenced Arnold’s earlier claim (Arnold had submitted a claim for approximately $19,000, as discussed in prior meetings). One motion proposed paying Arnold the difference between JJC’s prior quote (about $37,000) and the new $33,528 quote (roughly $4,000–$5,000) as compensation for work already done. Several members said they preferred to open the new quotes and review them before deciding how much of Arnold’s claimed amount represented completed work.

After further discussion and a request to hear the county attorney’s recommendation, the board voted to table payment of Arnold’s claim until the next meeting so legal counsel could provide guidance and staff could analyze what work was actually completed.

Votes at a glance: the motion to hire JJC Excavating ($33,528) was approved (recorded yes votes: Whitehead; Hamilton; Reagan; Christie; Buckle). A subsequent motion to table payment on Arnold’s claim until the next meeting also passed on recorded roll call.