Simpson County approves $28,667 fence for Cambridge Trace retention basin, agrees to cover verified material increases

The Simpson County Fiscal Court voted Dec. 16 to award a $28,667 contract to Wheeler Fencing to build a fence around the Cambridge Trace retention basin and agreed the county will cover any verified increases in material costs that occur before the project begins.

Public Works Director Bobby Groves recommended the court accept Wheeler Fencing's low bid based on the specifications provided and warned that delays to spring could increase material costs. The court approved the award on a motion by Magistrate Scott Poston, seconded by Magistrate Marty Chandler; Poston, Chandler, Myron Thurman and Judge Mason Bames voted yes and Magistrate Jeffrey Burr recused himself.

Groves told the court that if a vendor documents higher material prices between award and construction start, the county will accept documented increases and pay the difference so long as the company demonstrates the cost change. The county did not set a specific dollar contingency in the motion.

The authorization allows the vendor to proceed under the awarded specifications; county staff will monitor timing and cost changes and bring any supplier documentation to the court if additional approval is needed.

The court did not set a construction start date; Groves indicated work could be delayed into April or May, which prompted the discussion of covering material increases. No public opposition to the award was recorded during the meeting. The project funding source was not specified at the meeting.