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Bids opened for Edwards Ditch vegetation removal; commissioners expected to approve award
Summary
Warrick County officials opened three public bids for vegetation removal on Edwards Ditch — $24,780, $64,533.84 and $78,188 — and agreed the county commissioners, not the drainage board, must formally approve any award because the contracts exceed the $5,000 threshold.
Warrick County's drainage board opened three public bids for vegetation removal on Edwards Ditch, and board members agreed the county commissioners will need to formally approve any contract because the awards exceed the county's $5,000 signature threshold.
A staff member read the low proposal as $24,780 and also announced offers of $64,533.84 from Paulson Earthworks LLC and $78,188 from Elliott Excavating Inc. The bids came with the standard forms: non-collusion affidavits, equal employment documents and insurance certificates.
The surveyor's office staff said the work covers roughly 5,800 feet of ditch along State Road 66, in front of businesses on the south side of the road. A board member noted the ditch "has become overgrown with vegetation," and the surveyor's office representative said he would not spray herbicide off-label and therefore the work needs to be mowed down so future maintenance can be performed safely.
Board members questioned which office would fund and approve the contract. Multiple speakers said the bid was advertised and opened under the surveyor's project but that, under the county's newer $5,000 ordinance, the commissioners must sign for expenditures above that threshold. One board member summarized the outcome: the bids could be opened publicly by the drainage board, but the surveyor cannot sign a contract; the surveyor should place a request on the commissioners' agenda so the commissioners can award and sign.
The board did not award the contract at the meeting. Staff said they will prepare materials for the commissioners' meeting so the award can be considered and — if time-sensitive — a consensus or ratification could be requested at a commissioners' session.
Next steps: the county surveyor's office will bring the bid packet and recommendation to the county commissioners for award and contract signature. The drainage board will retain copies of the opened bids and the staff notes on bid completeness.
