“We are not getting competitive bids”

Asphalt companies are getting bigger and, unfortunately for Oconee County, larger companies are looking for larger contracts than those that a county of Oconee’s size offers.  And it’s creating problems for cities such as Seneca and Westminster to get streets repaved.  Sam Dickson and Richard Cottingham of the Oconee State “C” Fund Committee brought their concerns to their committee meeting, attended by county and municipal officials.  The problem surfaced recently when Westminster’s call for paving bids attracted no interest from contractors.  So, the solution could be for Oconee’s five cities and towns to pool their “C” allocations together and bid them out as one project – with the thinking being that that would pique the interest of today’s larger contractors.  One idea discussed this morning is for the towns and cities to piggyback their paving projects onto Oconee County government’s existing contract with King Asphalt.  That would require a contract amendment between the county and King.