Union County commissioners reject overbudget reservoir bids, order separate rebids for dredging and building

The Union County Board of County Commissioners at a special meeting adopted Resolution 202576 to reject the bids submitted for the county reservoir project and authorized staff to reissue separate bids for dredging and for the building component.

County Manager (name not specified) said the bids "are well over budget" and that the county would "go back out immediately" to solicit new proposals after the resolution is forwarded to the state. The manager said separating the building from dredging is intended to yield better pricing and that the change "does not" affect project funding or the overall timeline.

During the allotted public-comment period, Claire Bruno Clark asked whether the county was now requesting two bids; the county manager confirmed "it'll be two separate bids." Nancy Troskis asked whether boat ramps and fishing piers would be included; the county manager said boat ramps will be in the dredging contract and that the county is negotiating access with the turnpike. Lee Patterson questioned why the bids were so high relative to the architect's estimate and urged the county to ensure the drawings and bidding approach are revised; the county manager replied a roughly 30-day rebid window was expected.

Chair moved to both consider the resolution from the floor and adopt Resolution 202576; the motion was seconded. The clerk recorded affirmative votes and the resolution carried with an affirmative tally recorded by the board (6 ayes, vote recorded as unanimous in the meeting record). The resolution directs staff to reject the received bids and to reissue solicitations with the building and dredging components bid separately.

No changes to the county's stated funding or the project's overall timeline were announced at the meeting. The county said it hopes to reissue the revised bids in about 30 days and to receive more competitive pricing once the building scope is separated from dredging.

The meeting record notes that the special meeting was advertised in the county's official newspaper and that a special meeting notice was posted in the Administration Building.