Bids to open a new cell at the Allen County Landfill came in significantly less than expected.
Commissioners approved a bid of $2.36 million from Halcomb Construction of Nevada, Mo. They expected bids would be closer to $3.8 million, possibly as high as $5 million.
Five bids were submitted for the project, which will open only the second new cell since landfill regulations changed in the 1990s and only the third since the landfill was constructed in 1974.
Work is expected to begin in March and should take about a year.
The bids ranged from Halcomb’s low of $2.36 million to $4.8 million.
Jared Brooks, an engineer with Schwab Eaton, said the county benefited from a competitive bidding process. The three lowest bids were within 7.5% of each other.
“You had a lot of interest in this project,” he said.
Commissioners asked if he felt comfortable accepting Halcomb’s bid, as the company has not worked for the county before. Brooks said he also had not worked with the company, but they had good references from trusted sources.
Commissioner Bruce Symes asked Brooks and Public Works Director Mitch Garner if the county might face additional or unexpected expenses.
Garner said there would be some costs from setting poles to extend electricity to the site.
Brooks said he didn’t anticipate much, if any deviation from plans once crews started the work.
Fairgrounds damage
Allen County Fair Board President Larry Crawford gave commissioners an update on vandalism and damage to the fairgrounds from over the weekend.
Vandals spray painted graffiti and caused damage at numerous locations, including at the fairgrounds, vehicles owned by Columbia Metal and the Elm Creek North Frisbee Golf course. A door to a concession stand and the crow’s nest at the rodeo arena also were damaged. Snack items were stolen from the concession stand, and a microphone cord was taken from the crow’s nest.
Iola Police discovered the vandalism and are investigating.
