Development of at least 2.4 miles of Rock Island Trail within the city limits of Owensville moved one step closer to reality Monday with approval of an engineering contract with CM Archer Group.

Owensville aldermen gave unanimous approval Dec. 5 to Ordinance No. 1406 which includes separate fee structures for design services and construction services.

The contract authorizes a predetermined fixed fee of $6,015 with a ceiling “not to exceed” $47,979 for design services. 

For construction services, the city agrees to pay a predetermined fixed fee of $6,846 with a ceiling “not to exceed” $71,968.

The contract also authorized CM Archer to use Terracon Consultants, Inc., of Rolla, as a subcontractor for “materials testing” at a cost to the city of $14,860.

The 10-page ordinance includes an additional 12 pages of attachments. There were no questions posed by aldermen.

“We’re pretty well good to go,” said Mayor John Kamler.

“Once you get MoDOT approval,” added the city’s contracted engineer, Travis Hernandez.

The project will be funded with a $500,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Funds program (TAP). The city has pledged $100,000 in matching-grant funds.