Burke County officials agreed to extend the bid period for the Bridal Ground Road (Boulder) project by two weeks to resolve bonding questions after the county received a single bid. County staff said FEMA and federal funds will pay for the bulk of the Bridal Ground Road project and that a two-week extension was unlikely to harm traffic plans for a road that has been closed about a year.
The county also opened and reviewed multiple bids for the Ritz Avenue Road Expansion through the industrial park. Staff read bids that (as presented in the meeting) ranged roughly from about $1.0 million to $2.44 million; example bidders and amounts as read in the room included Sykes Brothers ($1,495,125.50), JW Oliver Construction ($1,850,009.81), Gehrig (about $2,295,005.59) and E.R. Snell (about $2,439,407). Staff noted the project includes curb-and-gutter elements that likely drive much of the cost and said they did not yet have answers about utility availability for the affected area.
County staff reported outreach to local contractors (one named contractor indicated willingness to bid if notified) and recommended extending the Bridal Ground Road bid to solicit additional bidders. The board agreed by consensus to extend the bid period and to hold the one received bid pending the extended period.
Other procurement items reviewed included a uniform contract with competing weekly rates reported (staff noted UniFirst’s weekly rate appeared lower than one competitor) and painting bids for six emergency-management/fire stations with low bids in the $56,000–$67,000 range for the full package and one notably higher bid at $228,000; staff said Midville station (an all-block building) may need separate treatment.
Commissioners did not award the Ritz Avenue contract at the meeting and scheduled follow-up work to verify utilities and bonding requirements before award.