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Gage County awards culvert material contract to Ace Eaton; board hears contractor delay on Claytonia DeWitt project
Summary
The Gage County Board of Supervisors accepted bids and awarded a materials-only culvert contract to Ace Eaton Metals for $256,815.15 and discussed liquidated damages for an unfinished Claytonia DeWitt Road culvert project.
The Gage County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to accept bids for six 2025 county culvert projects and award the low-material bid to Ace Eaton Metals of Kearney for $256,815.15.
The board’s action followed a public opening of three bids for multiple culvert installations. Supervisor Anne Jurgens moved to approve the Ace Eaton award; Supervisor Dorn seconded. The motion carried on a 6-0 vote.
The award covers material only for projects listed as C341086, C341231, C341242, C341243, C341253 and C341278, county staff said. County staff told supervisors the apparent low bidder met delivery windows—roughly four to 16 weeks from approved shop plans—and recommended the award for review and installation scheduling.
Supervisors and road department staff cautioned that the county’s inventory of readily installable culverts is shrinking and that upcoming projects are larger and more complex. County staff said they have some large box culverts in stock and can stage material deliveries to match onsite schedules while remaining mindful of seasonal constraints.
Separately, the board discussed performance problems on the Claytonia DeWitt Road culvert contract. County staff reported that out of six structures in that contract, only one is complete. The original contract completion date had been November 1, but the contractor received extensions—first to May 1 and then additional time—because of weather and downstream delays. The county is assessing liquidated damages at $300 per day per structure, staff said, and residents in the area have expressed frustration with the contractor’s pace.
Supervisors instructed staff to continue coordinating schedules, monitor deliveries, and bring additional procurement or enforcement actions back to the board if needed.
The board recessed briefly after the bid openings and returned later in the meeting to approve the Ace Eaton award. The county’s road superintendent confirmed materials-only bids do not carry liquidated damage provisions for late delivery, though project timing remains a concern when contractors handle installation.
