Grant County approves bridge and materials bids pending state reimbursement; schedules prioritized work

Grant County Fiscal Court on Tuesday voted to accept low bids for three county bridge projects and to award materials contracts for road work in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, contingent on final approval and reimbursement from the state transportation office.

The court’s motion to accept the bid committee’s recommendation for the three bridges — and to allow the judge executive to sign interlocal agreements or resolutions as required by the state — was made by Magistrate Humphrey and seconded by Magistrate Shauna Kodar. The motion carried with the court saying “aye.”

The nut graf: County officials said the bridge contracts are conditioned on receipt of state reimbursement, and they authorized the judge executive to sign documents needed to proceed once the state approves funding. Road staff and the successful bidder discussed scheduling and traffic impacts ahead of construction.

County Judge Executive Chuck Dills told the court that the bid packets had been opened and reviewed by the bid committee on April 23 and that the county had forwarded paperwork to the state for approval of the reimbursement. Ron English, the contractor who submitted the successful bridge bid, and “Marty” (a representative listed in the bid materials) attended the meeting to answer scheduling questions.

Magistrates and contractors discussed likely turnaround times for the projects, with one contractor estimating two to three days per short-span item depending on weather and up to four weeks for larger work. The court and road supervisor Joe Gordon said Dry Ridge–Mount Zion Road would likely be the highest priority because of through traffic and possible school-route impacts; they asked staff to coordinate with the school system if construction extends into August.

On materials and supplies, the court approved the low bids recommended by the road department for stone, hot-mix asphalt, cold mix, salt and fuel arrangements. Specifically, the court accepted the stone bid from Kim Krupper (line-item prices read into the record), awarded hot-mix surface and base to Rigler Blacktop (with a discussion that Mago Construction had a slightly lower bid from a more distant plant), approved Eaton Asphalt for cold mix, and accepted the salt bid from Kim Krupper based on next-day delivery capability. A fuel contract approach was approved that allows staff to select between Valor Oil (a margin above OPIS rack pricing) and World Fuel Services/Liking Energy Solutions based on the daily quote.

Magistrate Riley moved to accept the stone bid and later moved for the asphalt and salt recommendations; those motions were seconded and carried. County staff emphasized that distance from pickup plants affects the selection for hot-mix products because the material must remain workable on transport.

The court recorded no amendments to the bids and left detailed scheduling and start-date decisions to road staff after the county receives authorization from the state. Judge Dills asked staff to sign and return any documents from the state so work can begin as early as July 1, depending on final approvals.

Ending: Contractors and county staff were thanked for attending; they were excused after the awards. The court moved on to other agenda items after confirming the motions carried and directing the road supervisor to coordinate start dates and school notifications.