OTTAWA — When county commissioners decided to seek more bids to repave part of Tennessee Road near LeLoup north of I-35, Franklin County officials had hoped skip a few extra steps. But county public works director Jim Haag and county administrator Lisa Johnson told commissioners Wednesday that they will have to post legal publications when they solicit the extra bids. Johnson said the contract is just big enough that state law requires that the county publish the request for bids. Originally, Haag had negotiated a price with Killough Construction, Ottawa, which had been doing other work for the county, to do the work but County Commission Colt Waymire asked him to seek other bids for the work. Haag then planned to contact other area contractors and ask for bids, but he checked the state law and learned he had to follow formal bid procedures. Commissioners accepted their recommendation. Haag has said Tennessee Road needs an extra layer of asphalt because it is starting to deteriorate from heavy truck traffic from a new rock quarry in the area.
Friday, May 11, 6 a.m.
