Two local suppliers awarded county gravel bids

After confronting one supplier about questionable delivery and questioning why another supplier didn't send a representative, Red Willow County commissioners awarded 2007-08 gravel bids Monday morning to two local suppliers.

Bids for gravel to cover the county's 600 miles of country roads came from Hancock Gravel and Paulsen's Inc., which have for years split the county's gravel requests, and, for the first time ever, from EIA LLC of Benkelman. Paulsen's was represented by Mike Seaman; and Hancock by Jay Hancock. No one was present to represent the EIA bid.

Commissioners awarded Hancock's the county precincts from Indianola west: Danbury, $6.30 per ton; Gerver, $6.03; Grant, $5.49; Bondville, $6.07; Valley Grange, $5.43; Driftwood, $4.97; Red Willow, $5.75; Willow Grove, $4.97; Perry, $4.97; Fritsch, $5.99; Box Elder, $5.80; and Coleman, $5.17.

Paulsen's was awarded these precincts, east of a line north and south of Indianola: Lebanon, $7.13 per ton: Beaver, $6.59; Tyrone, $6.53; Missouri Ridge, $6.12; East Valley, $6.07; Indianola, $5.80; North Valley, $6.20; and Alliance, $6.09.

Paulsen's submitted the low bid in Bondville, $6 compared to $6.07 from Hancock, but commissioners awarded the precinct to Hancock, Hoyt being more pleased with Hancock's delivery. Hoyt suggested that the county implement a bond tied to a timely 30-60 days delivery schedule.

Seaman, of Paulsen's, told commissioners that his company has hired a new full-time truck driver to improve gravel delivery to the county. Both Seaman and Hancock said that demand for gravel has increased dramatically, especially with county road work following winter blizzards and spring flooding.

Hoyt questioned whether to award Indianola and Alliance precincts to Hancock as well, but Jay Hancock said he did not want too many precincts, afraid of spreading his trucks too thinly and also jeopardizing service.

EIA was the low bidder on Gerver precinct, $6 per ton; Fritsch, $5.78; and Coleman, $5.43; and tied with Hancock on two others: Driftwood, $4.97; and Perry, $4.97. Commissioners seemed apprehensive to award these bids and/or break the ties without talking to a representative from EIA. "I'm skeptical about honoring a bid without a representative present, and just a few cents variation," said Commission Chairman Earl McNutt.

"Two to three cents is pretty minimal. I would hope they would be conscientious enough to be present, especially on their initial bid."

Commissioner Steve Downer said he would have no problem buying from a third supplier, but he was disappointed that there was no representative at the meeting.

"We may buy from them anyway," he said, as EIA's gravel is two cents a ton cheaper if the county picks it up at the pit. EIA's FOB bid is $4.23 per ton; Paulsen's and Hancock's are each $4.25.

Gravel prices are 15-25 cents per ton higher than they were in 2006-07.