County awards road bids

Red Willow County commissioners awarded the county's 2004 armor-coating contract to a Red Cloud firm Monday morning, and discovered it will save taxpayers money if the county itself buys asphaltic oil directly from a broker.

Figgins Construction of Red Cloud submitted the only bid for the county's summer paving projects.

Projects included in the base bid were: East 11, 2 1/2 miles (starting at the city limits north of Willow Ridge to the four-corner intersection); Bartley North, 5.5 miles; McCook South detour, 2.5 miles; Common Scents road, 1 mile; River Road southeast of McCook, 1.75 miles; Danbury South, 1/2 mile; and District 8, 3.1 miles.

Figgins' base bid was $132,456, which included furnishing and applying 70,000 gallons of asphaltic oil at $1.18 a gallon.

Alternate projects were West Third North, 2.5 miles and Danbury North, 1 mile. Figgins' bid on these alternate projects was $24,846.50.

Commissioners accepted Figgins' base bid, but denied the alternate bid because they may want to wait a year on the West Third project, and pave instead the one-half mile of county road that leads onto the Ron Friehe property at the west end of the Common Scents road.

Commissioners discovered they may be able to save about $3,360 if the county itself purchases the asphaltic oil needed to complete the projects. A Kansas City asphaltic oil broker quoted commission chairman Earl McNutt a price of $0.952 per gallon Monday morning. The broker told commissioners he works with many counties who purchase their own oil and aggregate and then contract for the paving company's labor.

Figgins Construction had priced the oil at $1.00 a gallon, with application an additional $0.18 a gallon. Donna Figgins told commissioners even if the county purchased the oil itself, her crews would apply it for $0.18 a gallon.

County Surveyor Gary Dicenta said he will write an addendum to the original Figgins contract and commissioners will discuss both next week.

In other action, commissioners:

* Set these dates for property valuation protect hearings: July 1, 2, 8 and 9, from 8 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; July 12, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; July 13 and 14, from 8 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; July 19, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.; and July 20 and 21, from 8 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

* Accepted an insurance settlement on voting booths damaged by a fire in the Indianola city offices in March, $520.85.

* Reappointed Russ Wood of Indianola to another five-year term on the Red Willow County Veterans Services Committee.

* Reviewed and filed monthly reports from the county clerk and the clerk of the district court, and reports on jail usage and prisoner transport.