Board approves $13.4 million roadwork plan; supervisors seek local-hire language

The Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved the FY 2025–26 roadwork plan, totaling $13,416,562 in proposed expenditures for county roads, after staff outlined project lists and funding sources.

Public Works presenter Neil reviewed changes since the July meeting, noting the removal of an Acacia Avenue sidewalk appropriation and an increase of nearly $900,000 to road overlays funded from the road fund and SB 1 allocations. Neil told the board, “We get about 4.5 to 4.7 million a year from SB 1 funds,” and identified other significant allocations including county participation in the SR 99 Oswald intersection construction (about $1.5 million previously authorized).

Casey Toole, a district representative for Operating Engineers Local 3, urged the board to include local-hire provisions in bid documents so Sutter County residents can get roadwork jobs. Supervisors expressed support for keeping work local where legally permissible: county counsel cautioned that the state Public Contract Code limits what local-preference provisions can be included and recommended staff return with language that is compliant.

Supervisor Boone successfully requested a district-level swap — removing Almond Drive from District 1’s list and replacing it with Williston Road — which the board approved as part of the motion. Supervisors also confirmed that county public works jobs and construction contracts require prevailing wage and Department of Industrial Relations registration and certified payroll for payment.

The motion to approve the road plan included the district modification and direction to explore possible local-hire language; the board approved it by roll-call vote and asked staff to meet individually with supervisors as needed in advance of future road-plan cycles.