Crawford County reviews two dust-control bids, schedules work session to compare products

Crawford County commissioners opened bids for the county dust-control program at their March 14 meeting, hearing proposals from Home City Grain and Scottwood Industries and agreeing to a follow-up work session to compare product performance and contract terms.

Home City Grain submitted two prices: $1.42 per gallon for a county-run program and $1.45 per gallon for a company-run program and indicated it would use the same product as the prior year. Scottwood Industries bid a magnesium chloride solution at $1.24 per gallon for the county-run program and $1.29 per gallon for a company-run program and provided safety data sheets with its submission.

Greg Stiles, who identified himself as Scottwood’s representative, described the company’s 30% magnesium chloride product and said "it's going to take less product to equate the same effectiveness level" compared with the calcium‑chloride–based blend the county used previously. He estimated standard application rates and explained that typical homeowner sprays can run about 300 gallons when applied at the county's standard 18‑foot pass.

Commissioners and staff discussed logistics and customer handling differences between a county‑run program and a company‑run program, including registration, mailings, on‑site preparation and the county’s continued obligation to provide water trucks and personnel to prep dispensing sites. Road and Bridge staff indicated they would prepare comparison data and product information for commissioners to review.

Rather than award a contract at the meeting, commissioners agreed to hold a work session on March 25 to compare the two products and ensure vendors are being compared "apples to apples" before making a final decision.

The county expects a June start for applications and registrations if a program is approved; precise timelines for advertising and resident signups will depend on whether the program is run by the county or a contractor.