Award-winning

Continued from page 10 macroinvertebrates and fish species reflects the health of the water,” Schouten’s poster explained. “If there are species intolerant to pollution found in the waterway, it shows the water is clean enough for them to live. The same goes for macroinvertebrates.

“Watersheds, rivers, creeks,

Spring farm challenges

The month of March has been cold and wet. From an agricultural perspective, the cold is fine, as it has slowed the growth of fruit trees and other overwintering plants. Otherwise, they may have a tendency on a warm day to start their biological process toward blooming, only to have that bloom killed in a late spring cold weather snap. Several years back, we had three 80-degree days in March and no fruit crop that year because of the late cold.

The wet part has its good and bad issues. We needed the moisture recharge after a dry fall, but our livestock producers would rather forego the muddy lots and would also like to do some field applications of manure.

Manure has become a more valuable asset, as fertilizer prices have increased over the past few years. Many farmers in our area purchase chicken manure to be spread on fields. It has become a hot commodity in some areas; there are even chicken manure auctions. Besides its organic and nutritive values, it also contains trace minerals and is considered organic fertilizer by certifying agencies. This includes not only the conventional farmer but the organic ones into the auction.

Continued on page 15 streams and lakes all have a diverse ecosystem. It is crucial to have and keep this diversity. … Water pollution can change the natural balance for the worse.”

She also noted how scientists collect samples from waterways by electrofishing, which temporarily paralyzes the fish so they may be identified and measured. To collect macroinvertebrates, nets are used to kick up the dirt at the bottom of the waterway.

Schouten’s project ended with some suggestions for helping maintain healthy waterways, which included proper disposal of chemicals, not littering, avoiding buying and using plastic, planting trees and mulching or composting yard clippings.

“In this part of Indiana, good water quality is very important,” said Schouten, citing the region’s large aquifer. “To preserve that natural resource is very important.”

Schouten is in her eighth year of 4-H. She is also regularly involved in poultry and raises ISA brown chickens at her grandmother’s. Other projects have included big foods (rolls, bread, cookies and cakes) and food preservation. “It’s been really fun picking out a different project every year.”

Although Schouten has yet to decide on a project for this summer, she does think she will continue to study Indiana’s waterways.

Apart from 4-H, Schouten is particularly interested in her math and chemistry classes at school. She is also a goalkeeper with the Culver Cavaliers soccer team. “I’m looking forward to the soccer season this fall.” Like 4-H, she has played soccer for 8 years.

Eventually, Schouten would like to attend Purdue University, where she hopes to study architecture, so she can apply mathematics in a creative way. Architecture, she said, provides an opportunity to “create something new that no one’s seen before. … And there’s so much you can do with the designs.”

Notice To Bidders

Notice is hereby given that Rochester, by and through its Board of Works, will receive sealed bids for the construction of:

ROCHESTER NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION

APACHE ROAD & PEACE TREE VILLAGE FULTON COUNTY, INDIANA

Sealed proposals will be received at the Rochester City Hall, 320 S. Main Street, Rochester, IN 46975 by 5:00 P.M. (local time) on May 11th, 2023. All proposals will then be publicly opened and read aloud during the Board of Works meeting, which begins at 5:00 P.M. (local time). Any proposals received after the above-designated time will be returned unopened.

The proposed construction will include new road construction of 8 inches of HMA pavement over subgrade treatment with 2-12’ lanes, 2-3’ paved shoulders, with curb and gutter, detention pond, storm sewers, 8-inch sanitary sewers, and 8-inch watermain. Sidewalk will be placed behind the curb on each side of the roadways and all incidental work required, as more fully specified in the Contract Documents and Plans.

All proposals must be submitted on State Board of Accounts Form No. 96 together with the proper forms included in the Contract Documents, the entire set of which shall be filed intact as a bid.

The contract documents are available at www.questcdn.com. This contract is QuestCDN project number 8429242. A contractor may view the contract documents at no cost prior to deciding to be a planholder. To be considered a planholder for bids, a contractor must register with QuestCDN.com and purchase the contract documents in digital form at a cost of $22.00. Registering for all prime contractors and subcontractors is recommended as planholders will receive automatic notice of addendums and other contract document updates via QuestCDN. Contact QuestCDN Customer Support at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in membership registration or downloading digital project information.

Bidders shall assure that they have obtained complete sets of drawings and Contract Documents and shall assume the risk of any errors or omissions in bids prepared in reliance on incomplete sets of drawings and Contract Documents.

SECURITY: Any person, firm or corporation who submits a proposal MUST file with their bid a CERTIFIED CHECK, BANK DRAFT, CASHIER’S CHECK OR MONEY ORDER issued by a financial institution insured by an agency of the United States in the amount of five percent (5%), made payable to the ClerkTreasurer of Rochester. In lieu of the above, any person, firm or corporation who submits a proposal and has a principal place of business in the State of Indiana MAY file with their proposal a BID BOND in the amount of five percent (5%), made payable to the City Council of Rochester.

Proposals may be held by the Board of Works for a period not to exceed sixty (60) calendar days from the public opening.

The successful Contractor will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and Payment Bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price, each, within ten (10) days after award of the contract and a two (2) year Maintenance Bond in the amount of thirty percent (30%) of the contract price prior to completion and final payment of the contract.

No Contractor may withdraw his proposal within sixty (60) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

The Rochester Board of Works reserves the right to ask for clarification for any bid submitted. In comparing bids, consideration will not be confined to price only. The successful bid will be the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, however the City Board of Works reserves the right to reject any proposal, to waive technicalities or irregularities therein, to delete any bid item or items and to award a contract on the proposal that in their judgment is most advantageous to Rochester.

Rochester Board of Works

Theodore J. Denton, Mayor John Little, Member | Richard Figlio, Member