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Contractors say county staff missed certification, costing $4 million Forest Service bid
Summary
Local contractors told the board a missing county certification tied to a Forest Service solicitation prevented their firm from bidding on 5,500 tons of base rock, a job they estimate at about $4,000,000 and several full‑time positions. They urged the county to improve responsiveness and accountability.
Bob Johnson, owner of Bob Johnson Construction, told the board that on Feb. 24 he was contacted about a Forest Service solicitation for 3,710 cubic yards (about 5,500 tons) of base rock that required material certified free of a specific weed. "Our bid was around $4,000,000. It would have employed 6 full time employees," Johnson said, and he blamed a delayed county certification that arrived only after bids closed.
Tom Louie of Louie's Gravel supported Johnson’s account and said he had documented calls and timestamps showing urgent requests to county staff. "Please return our phone calls eventually," Louie said, asking for a 24–48 hour response window and urging the board to consider the local economic impact when county staff are unresponsive. County Administrator Angela Davis said inquiries and research have been made and that the matter may be discussed in closed session because it was not agendized for public action today.
