Sherman County commissioners voted to accept a bid from Venture Corporation to overlay the highway from Goodland east toward Edson and to add miles as needed to secure a $1 million KDOT cost-share grant.

Unidentified Speaker 3, who presented the bids, told the board the county received three competitive offers and that KDOT had pledged $1,000,000 for the cost-share project but the county must spend about $2.7 million to receive the full share. "The cost share project, they did award you $1,000,000 for KDOT funding," Speaker 3 said, noting the bids arrived substantially below the county estimate. Commissioners discussed extending the project eastward to reach Brewster and capture more miles under the partnership.

The board considered three bids: Venture Corporation (the low responsive bidder), APAC, and Bettis Asphalt. Speakers noted asphalt per‑ton prices came in far lower than recent years, which created an opportunity to add miles. Speaker 2 moved to approve the Venture Corporation bid and to allow adding miles to reach the KDOT funding threshold; Speaker 1 seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

Earlier in the meeting the board also approved a separate combined chip‑seal package: Speaker 2 described a two‑bid combination for an eight‑mile chip seal totaling $232,400, which the board approved on a voice vote. County staff said chip sealing will be scheduled later in the summer and noted the chip‑seal scope could change depending on overlay decisions and final bid results.

The board directed county staff to work with KDOT on extending project limits and to verify contract details and bid pricing before work proceeds. No final construction schedule was set in the meeting; staff said paving would proceed in warmer months when contractors mobilize.

The project is intended to use the county's sales‑tax funds as the local share and to prioritize areas on the east side of town. Commissioners emphasized verifying scope and budget before formal contract signing and instructed staff to provide the bid documents and updated scope to the board for review.