Lander County approves $1.313 million bid to replace upper booster station amid concerns over high construction costs

The Lander County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 14 approved a bid award for the upper booster station replacement (PWP LA-2025-256), selecting A and K Earth Movers' base bid not to exceed $1,313,000 and a bid alternate not to exceed $1,338,920. The award followed commissioner questions about why contractor bids were significantly higher than the engineer's earlier estimates.

Marty of Dain Engineering told the board he had prepared an estimate about a year earlier and updated it but acknowledged difficulty anticipating sharp material and labor price increases. "No, I initially gave a budget, a year ago, but updated it somewhat, but I will be completely honest with you and tell you it's difficult for me to anticipate price increases in materials and things like that," he said. Commissioners pressed staff on whether local contractors had required licenses and whether bids reflected market pressures in urban areas that make rural projects costlier.

Some commissioners voiced frustration at the spread between estimates and bids; one commissioner said, "You can build a house for that," prompting discussion of whether to reject all bids and rebid or to negotiate with the apparent low bidder. Staff and the engineer warned that delaying the project risked emergency repairs to the existing upper booster station. The board ultimately voted to award the contract to A and K Earth Movers and approved the alternate, with no formal roll-call tally recorded in the transcript beyond verbal "aye" votes.

The action directs the county to move forward with A and K Earth Movers on the replacement project; staff said they will seek scheduling details from the contractor and press for underground work to be completed before winter.