Morrison County awards $3.595 million paving contract to Knife River

The Morrison County Board of Commissioners voted to award a multi-project paving contract to Knife River Corporation for $3,595,121.08 after a competitive bidding process.

Public Works Director Tony Hedden told the board the county received five bids for the work, one of which was rejected for significant errors, leaving four qualifying bids. Hedden said all qualifying bids were below the county engineer’s estimate and recommended awarding the contract to the low bidder, Knife River Corporation, at $3,595,121.08. Commissioner Casper made the motion to accept the bid; Commissioner Wincher seconded. The board approved the award by roll call vote with all commissioners voting aye.

Hedden listed the project identifiers included in the contract as SAP049611011, SAP049614414, CP492307414, CP49238201 and CP49245003 and said the work covers a variety of county paving roads. He described the low bid as “very favorable” and noted Knife River’s local stockpiles and prior work in the area as factors that likely reduced their pricing. Hedden said one bidder was disqualified because that bid contained significant errors.

Hedden told commissioners the county typically constructs an engineer’s estimate from recent bid results and prevailing costs; this year’s bids came in about 18% below that estimate. He said other contractors’ hotmix prices ranged roughly in the mid-50s to low-60s per ton, with Knife River’s pricing notably lower on several line items.

The board also heard that two additional federal contracts — a joint project with Little Falls Township and another federal project farther north — had just received authorization and would add roughly another 29,000 tons of paving. Hedden said the county expects those projects to be advertised for a late-March letting.

The contract award is a formal board action; the county will proceed with contract execution and project scheduling under county procurement procedures.