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County says asphalt plant production will reduce outsourcing; officials urge project bundling for savings
Summary
County staff reported nearly 10,000 tons of asphalt production this year and said next year’s in-house output should significantly reduce outsourcing costs; officials recommended educating townships on bundling projects to lower per-mile costs.
Speaker 2 reported the county asphalt plant produced "just under 10,000 tons" this year and said next year the plant should be able to produce the majority of county asphalt. "Anywhere from 20 to 40 [tons] depending on projects," Speaker 2 said when estimating per-run tonnage, adding that consolidating tonnage on a single road reduces mobilization costs and yields better per-mile pricing.
Committee members discussed cost examples. Speaker 2 said prior contractor work could be about $15,000 a mile in some instances and that larger, contiguous pours generally produce savings compared with many small patches. Speaker 2 suggested creating an educational brief for the towns association to explain how bundling work reduces mobilization and cost, and recommended a closed-session briefing when detailed bid and mobilization numbers are discussed because other entities attend public meetings.
Speaker 2 also explained that some asphalt work this year was hired out due to purchase constraints tied to LRIP rules, but future funding and plant operation adjustments should allow more in-house production and potential cost savings. The committee did not take formal procurement action at this meeting; staff said they would prepare briefings for townships and return with additional figures.
