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Select Board awards winter-sand contract to local WA Lucas Enterprises after reviewing three bids
Summary
After reviewing three bids for the town's winter sand, the Buckfield Select Board voted to award the contract to WA Lucas Enterprises. Board members weighed vendor hauling versus town pickup, vehicle maintenance costs, and vendor proximity before approving the award and directing staff to complete paperwork.
The Town of Buckfield Select Board voted March 3 to award the town’s winter-sand contract to WA Lucas Enterprises after considering three bids and operational trade-offs.
Town staff read three proposals: CH Stevens (pickup $8 per cubic yard; hauled $15/yd), WA Lucas Enterprises of Hebron ($11.50 pickup; $17/yd hauled) and Aceto Sand and Gravel of Sabattus ($10 pickup; $18/yd hauled). The town typically budgets for 3,200 cubic yards but initially orders about 2,500 yards, meaning hauling logistics and vendor reliability affect total cost and timing.
The town manager explained that hauling 2,500 yards with the town’s crew would consume roughly two weeks of labor and increase vehicle wear and tear; board members said avoiding that crew burden could save money despite a higher per-yard vendor price. Members also cited the smaller local bidder’s history of working on town roads and the risks of long-haul schedules and vehicle breakdowns when weighing bids.
After discussion a board member moved to accept WA Lucas Enterprises as the winter-sand provider; the motion was seconded and approved. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the public transcript. Town staff were instructed to complete contract paperwork and update the town manager’s budget workbook with the chosen vendor price.
The board clarified it did not have to decide at the vote whether the town would pick up sand or have it delivered; the selection secures the vendor for the budget projection and future contract paperwork.
What comes next: staff will finalize the contract with WA Lucas Enterprises and provide the town manager with the final numbers for inclusion in the FY 2026–27 budget materials.
