Road superintendent recommends Albina Asphalt bid for $755,766.50 surface oil treatment; herbicide costs rise to $43,218.30

Road Superintendent Kevin Hock presented two procurement items to the Lake County Board of Commissioners at its April 8 work session.

Hock recommended the Board accept Albina Asphalt's low bid of $755,766.50 for the county's 2025 surface oil treatment; final action was scheduled for the Regular Session. He also presented herbicide quotes and recommended accepting Nutrien Ag Solutions' low quote of $43,218.30, noting the figure was about $20,000 higher than the prior year and that tote deliveries from Nutrien help lower mixing costs.

Hock reported discussions with Sheriff Tague about consolidating or replacing deteriorating storage buildings in Silver Lake. He and the Sheriff discussed demolishing unsafe structures, building new storage to improve emergency response to the northern county, and possible cost-sharing or partnership in construction and use. Facilities Manager David Berman said some buildings were no longer safe and said the organizers of the Saturday Market must use weights rather than stakes on the Courthouse lawn to avoid damaging sprinklers.

Both the surface-treatment contract and herbicide purchase were presented in the work session and moved to the Regular Session for formal action; no purchase approvals are recorded in the work session minutes.

Why it matters: These contracts represent major maintenance expenditures and annual operating costs for county roads. Increases in herbicide costs and large road-treatment contract values affect the county budget and capital planning.

The Board will consider formal acceptance of the bids in Regular Session.