Commissioners split gravel bids for 2013-14

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Red Willow County, Nebraska, commissioners split gravel bids for 2013-14 between the two suppliers who submitted bids by Monday morning's deadline, and accepted the bid of the only company to bid on the county's 2013 armor coating projects.

Three companies have bid on the county's gravel each year since 2008. Steve Barenberg of EIA LLC told commissioners, "Hancock's absence has overloaded the boat," and he requested that, although his was the lowest bid on Lebanon, Tyrone and Missouri Ridge precincts, Paulsen Inc. be awarded the bid for those three precincts.

Commissioners and Paulsen Inc. representatives Chris Hunke and Mike Seaman agreed, and EIA was awarded nine precincts and Paulsen 11.

Each company's winning bid per precinct was:

EIA LLC -- Beaver, $7.74 per ton; Danbury, $7.33; Gerver, $7.07; Grant, $6.63; Valley Grange, $6.49; Driftwood, $6.19; Willow Grove, $6.19; Perry, $6.09; and Coleman, $6.17. EIA's cost if the county hauls gravel from the pit is $6.25 per ton.

EIA's pit is west of McCook and south of the Perry elevator.

Paulsen Inc. -- Lebanon, $8.77 per ton; Tyrone, $8.05; Missouri Ridge, $7.66; Bondville, $7.65; East Valley, $7.71; Indianola, $7.50; Red Willow, $7.40; North Valley, $8.05; Alliance, $7.50; Fritsch, $8.00; and Box Elder, $8.03. Paulsen's charge if the county hauls gravel from the pit is $5.75 per ton. Paulsen's pit is at Indianola.

There wasn't a great difference in the three precincts in question (EIA bid $8.20 per ton on Lebanon, $7.70 on Tyrone and $7.40 on Missouri Ridge), Barenberg pointed out. Commission chairman Earl McNutt told him, "We want to get the best deal we can for the tax payers, but we also don't want to overload a supplier to the point where he can't deliver in a timely manner."

Commissioners approved the bid awards. "We're good to go for another year," McNutt said.

Clint Baker, the son-in-law of Figgins Construction owners Donna and Gerald Figgins, presented the company's bid for Red Willow County's armor coating projects for the summer and fall. Baker told commissioners that the company, of Red Cloud, continues to be a family business, and proud that it can continue to serve Red Willow County.

Figgins' bid of $24,075 was the only bid submitted for the labor to apply aggregate to complete three projects:

* West Third, two miles north.

* Road 384 Southwest, two miles at the old District 8 schoolhouse.

* Roads 716/383 West, at Orscheln's west one mile and 1 1/2 miles north and south.

Figgins will apply 80,250 square yards of material at 30 cents per square yard.

Baker said that both Hancock's and Paulsen's pits are willing to provide gravel, but the projects' locations are closer to Hancock's pit. Figgins runs four trucks, he said.

County surveyor Gary Dicenta said he has locked in the oil price at $3.36 a gallon. He estimated the cost of the projects at $16,800 per mile.

McNutt said the county's patching of the roads is completed. Baker said his crews will be in the McCook area on other projects and will complete the county's by the deadline of Sept. 15.