VINCENNES, Ind. (AP) _ The levee superintendent in the southwestern Indiana city of Vincennes is prepared to award bids to permanently close two downtown flood gates.

The Vincennes Sun-Commercial reports (http://bit.ly/1J5N5Ey ) levee superintendent Hunter Pinnell told members of the Redevelopment Commission last he is prepared to award the bids for a total of $219,900 for the work.

The commission is paying for the projects as a part of the $1 million commitment its members made to making repairs to the Wabash River Levee. In accordance with repairs mandated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, those two temporary flood gates must be abandoned in exchange for permanent structures.

Pinnell said the work can't begin until flooding subsides.