County Decides Bids For Road Crew Needs

With two bids each for the commission to consider for gravel and materials and tires and maintenance, delivery cost and convenience were the driving factors in a decision to accept all four.

Commissioner Gary Emmons, in making the motion said that there was not a clear choice between the two bidders for gravel, Indian Creek Materials and Blue Wing Materials.

However, fuel costs would be higher, depending upon the location of the job.

“Both have quotes that are higher for some things. I feel that we should accept them both and then we could go with the provider that is closest to the job site,” suggested Emmons.

“That’s how we did it a couple of years ago, and that worked well for us,” said Emmons.

He made the motion to approve and in the absence of Commissioner Keith Whiteside, was seconded by Commissioner Jesse Roy.

The county received only one bid for hauling and delivery of material submitted by Payton Cote.

The two bids for costs of tires and labor also had highs and lows which did not appear to produce a clear winner. Convenience was the primary factor in the commission’s choice to accept bids from H&H Auto Tire & Towing and also Wayne’s Auto & Tractor.

“I think having two options will mean less waiting time. That way we can go with which ever provider will be able to the work the quickest,” said Emmons.

Sarah Davis, office manager for the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department, was present at the meeting and voiced her approval of the decision, stating that having to wait on repairs has been an issue in the past.

“It’s inconvenient when deputies can’t use a vehicle because it’s waiting for several weeks for a tire to be patched. It will be good to have more than one option,” said Davis.

Documentation required by FEMA for the application for reimbursement from the reconstruction of the 142E-24 bridge was finalized and Commissioner Roy was able to sign off on it.

The bridge was one of three in the county which sustained undermining damage from the 2024 Memorial Day weekend storm system. The county hopes to get some cost reimbursement for materials, labor and use of equipment.

The process has been redundant, with both SEMA and FEMA doing separate on site evaluations, and both requesting duplicate information from the county. It could take years to actually get the money, said Roy.

“For instance, the reimbursement from the 2017 flood only recently got finalized,” said Roy.

Road Crew Foreman Dale Beston reported that as the year comes to a close, “Everything is going great. We have roads that have been graded more than five times,” he said.

Beston said naturally the more heavily trafficked roads have been given more attention, and some of the less traveled roads have not actually needed five gradings.

Unfortunately, weather plays havoc when roads are graded, and/or gravel is spread and then heavy rainfall washes them out.

One of the roads that has been badly affected by recent flooding is 142E-2A.

Freddie Leroux brought his concerns about the road before the commission Wednesday.

Leroux asked whether the road could be built up about six or eight feet so that it isn’t so often underwater.

Leroux said when the road floods, about 12 households either cannot get out or have to use alternative routes.

He pointed out that should there be a medical emergency, the problem could have dire consequences.

Commissioner Roy said, “Give us 30 days. We are looking at this problem and possibly we have something in the works that will resolve it. Let us see how that plays out.”

With less than a week remaining until the end of 2024, the county is concentrating efforts on getting all the bills paid before Dec. 31 (which will be the last meeting of the year, and the last chance for the commission to conduct 2024 business).

No checks can be written until the 2025 budget is approved, the deadline of which is not until Jan. 31.