Board awards construction contract for county site improvement to low bidder

Valley County commissioners awarded a construction contract on Feb. 24 for a site-improvement project (including scales, pit drainage and related site work) to the apparent low bidder after the clerk and public-works staff confirmed required bid documents were in order.

Public works staff reported two bids were received and reviewed for compliance with required submittals. The low bid — identified in the meeting as the local bidder and presented as the apparent low-compliant bid — was moved for approval by a commissioner and seconded; commissioners voted unanimously to approve the award and directed staff to finish the compliance review and proceed with contract execution.

Staff told the board the project is contingent on required environmental and health approvals from DEQ and Central District Health. The county also discussed operational details including waste-water routing into a holding tank with a high-level alarm and the contractor's responsibility to provide equipment and keep the site operational once work is complete.

Commissioners asked public-works staff to ensure specifications addressing heavy-equipment floor protection (rubber tracks on excavator to avoid floor damage) and tank pumping/maintenance are addressed in the contract and operations plan.