Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Butler County tables gravel‑pit lease after fiscal questions and public comment
Loading...
Summary
Supervisors discussed costs, lease length and operational risks for a proposed new gravel pit; after public comment and split views on long leases, the board tabled the contract to allow all members to review financials and potential term changes.
The Butler County Board of Supervisors tabled action March 16 on a proposed gravel pit contract after extended discussion about cost assumptions, lease length and long‑term county needs.
Highway Superintendent Randy Isham presented 2024 numbers showing the county pumped 23,882 cubic yards of gravel at an estimated in‑house cost of $162,000 — about $6.82 per cubic yard — and said outsourcing the same volume last year would have cost roughly $470,000. Isham argued those figures represent roughly $300,000 in annual savings if the county operates a productive pit.
Public commenter Jim Rerucha challenged that math, noting many pits advertised $18–$22 per cubic yard and asking whether the county’s $6.82 figure omitted additional expenses. Supervisor Scot Griess said he could not support a new 20‑year lease without further scrutiny; discussion included the possibility of shortening the lease term to five years, a change Avery Johnson said he would accept.
Board members agreed three supervisors had reviewed Isham’s figures and asked that all board members be given time to examine the cost analysis and related studies before the board votes. The item was tabled to the next meeting so Isham can follow up with Avery Johnson and revisit contract terms.