Commissioners award rehab bid for county-owned former church to Temple & Temple contingent on opioid-settlement appropriation

Scott County commissioners reviewed bids for rehab work on the county-owned former church at 110 S. Second Street (the county's community building). Bids were opened in an earlier meeting and several contractors submitted proposals; commissioners discussed whether late submissions or post-bid clarifications (such as adding a concrete floor) could be considered.

Counsel reminded the board that bidding law limits amendments after bid opening and that the county cannot accept after-the-fact modifications to bids; commissioners may reject all bids and re-advertise if they want different specifications. Commissioners compared the lowest bid (Temple & Temple) with another bid that included concrete floors and new windows; the higher bid included an explicit $10,000 allowance for window rehab and a concrete floor that accounted for part of the difference.

Commissioners moved to award the bid to Temple & Temple for $324,500, contingent on a separate ordinance authorizing use of restricted opioid-settlement funds and on the county council approving an additional appropriation from that restricted fund. The motion included direction that staff advertise the appropriation request so council can act; if council approves the appropriation, the county will proceed with the award.

Commissioners discussed process clarity for late or amended bids and asked staff to confirm statutory advertising and bid-acceptance requirements moving forward. No contractor was allowed to change a bid after close of bids; staff noted that rejecting and re-advertising would be the remedy if the county wanted materially different specifications.