Commissioners approve 2026 crack-seal contract, multiple lakeshore permit extensions and a construction amendment

Flathead County commissioners voted on several routine but consequential items during their May 7 meeting, approving contracts and permit extensions needed to move capital and development projects forward.

The board awarded the 2026 crack-seal contract to Z and Z Seal Coating after county staff reported two bids were opened and the low bid from Z and Z was $1.37 per lineal foot. Dave Prunty, who presented the bid results, told commissioners “Everything in the bid checked out,” and the panel approved the award by voice vote.

The commissioners also approved one-year lakeshore permit extensions for multiple applications tied to the Luckett property on Whitefish Lake (FLP-25-79, FLP-25-43 and FLP-25-101) and for Montana Family Ventures LLC (FLP-24-17) at Juniper Bay, after planning staff said some applicants remain in the design or finishing stages and, in one case, photos documenting completed dock work were supplied.

Separately, the board authorized signature of Amendment No. 1 to the county’s contract with Martel Construction covering early bid-package ground-improvement work for the public safety facility. Whitney Ashenwald of the commissioner’s office said the amendment is for $6,968,202 and represents the early-ground-improvement bid plus Martel’s general conditions and miscellaneous items. Ashenwald clarified that the amendment “just puts us under contract for this amount” and that Martel will invoice monthly for work completed.

All of the above measures were adopted by voice votes; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: contracting staff will proceed with paperwork for the crack-seal award and the Martel amendment; planning staff will continue to monitor the lakeshore projects for progress and any further permit activity.