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Commissioners reject bids for Westwood Outfall Ditch dredging after high costs
Summary
Bids for dredging about 8,250 feet of the Westwood Outfall Ditch came in substantially higher than expected and the court voted to reject the bids and consider other options.
Hardin County Commissioners Court on Sept. 9 rejected the bids received for dredging Westwood Outfall Ditch, a project estimated to address about 8,250 feet of channel and roughly 3 feet of sediment settlement in Precinct 1.
Purchasing Director (Mrs.) Sims told the court that bids were opened Aug. 29 and that the solicitation drew attendees from county staff. The county had expected a lower cost; as one commissioner said, the low bid was "about seven times higher than we were hoping for." On a motion by Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Kirkendall, the court voted to reject the bids for the reasons given.
The project had been flagged after repeated citizen complaints and precinct staff identified the outfall ditch as needing work. Sims told the court she anticipated no way to pay the bids from her current budget and therefore recommended rejection. The court did not set a new procurement schedule or identify alternate funding during the meeting.
The rejection is procedural; commissioners directed staff to consider next steps outside the current solicitation.
