Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bonner County awards $3.91 million asphalt contract to Poe Asphalt for 2025 road projects
Summary
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners awarded the Bonner County Asphalt Projects 2025 contract to Poe Asphalt Paving Inc., including an optional 0.89-mile extension on East River Road, bringing the total award to about $3.91 million. County engineer Matt Mulder cited lower oil prices and contractor availability for unusually low bids.
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted to award the Bonner County Asphalt Projects 2025 contract to Poe Asphalt Paving Incorporated, approving the base bid and an optional addition that brings the total award to $3,912,304.30.
County Road and Bridge engineer Matt Mulder told the board the county opened five bids on March 17 and found all responsive. The low base bid from Poe Asphalt was $3,666,957.25. Mulder said the board- approved optional addition would extend asphalt an additional 0.89 miles on East River Road, requiring 2,444 tons of asphalt and 611 tons of gravel for shoulder work; that optional portion adds $245,347.05 to the contract and produces a final total of roughly $3.91 million.
"We had $79 a ton bid price where normally we've been looking at $90 to $110 per ton prices in years past," Mulder said, and he attributed the lower prices to a reduced oil price per barrel and to local contractor availability because the Idaho Transportation Department is not running large asphalt projects in the area this year. Mulder also said unanticipated state revenue — from fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees — allowed the county to offer a larger program than typical for a single year.
A member of the public asked Mulder to account for the lower-than-expected costs. Mulder reiterated the two main drivers he provided to the board: lower oil prices and more competition among contractors locally.
The board moved and seconded award of the base bid plus the optional addition to Poe Asphalt at the unit prices shown on Poe's bid. The motion carried on roll call; the motion, mover and second were entered on the record and the clerk recorded the vote as passing.
Mulder listed the specific roads included in the bid package: Bay Road and Edgemere Cutoff; Spades Road (north end, currently gravel); Monarch Road from Segal to Highway 90 (Segal to Chevy Street); Garfield Bay Road (reconstructed with cement-treated base and new asphalt from Segal Road to the public boat launch); South Center Valley Road and a short section of Center Valley Road plus all of North Center Valley Road (creating a continuous asphalt corridor from Sully Road to Colburn Culvert Road); and the substation Cutoff and East River Road near Kulin.
Mulder said the projects are part of the county's five-year transportation plan and were prioritized by road condition and traffic counts. He recommended awarding the contract to Poe Asphalt after reviewing bids and confirming responsiveness.
Budget and scope details provided in the meeting included the bid-price-per-ton estimates and the specific optional addition quantities. The board did not alter the project scope during the discussion.
The contract award will allow Road and Bridge to proceed with scheduling and construction; Mulder did not provide specific start or completion dates in the discussion recorded on the meeting transcript.
Votes at the meeting also approved other routine items, including a claims batch and event permits (see separate "Votes at a glance" article for a full list).
