BEATRICE- Gage County officials Wednesday received higher than typical interest from companies bidding on rock and gravel, and armor-coating work on about 34 miles of roadway this year.


"We haven't had spreads on bids like this for quite a while, but we've had two bidders for years on these projects, so some additional bidders, maybe there's a little more competition, here," said Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann commenting on the level of contractor interest on rock and gravel bids.


A half-dozen companies submitted bids on road material and hauling, broken down by northern and southern townships in the county.


Supervisors also received three company bids on the 34-miles of armor-coat maintenance to be done. The companies are from Yankton, South Dakota, Modale, Iowa and Atlantic, Iowa.


The apparent low bid was submitted by Midwest Castings, Co. of Modale, Iowa….at $430,545.


Bids for the road material and maintenance work were referred to the Highway Superintendent and department, for a recommendation later, to the board.
Gage County approved specifications Wednesday, for bids to be taken on a tracked excavator. Bids will be opened, March 23rd.