BEATRICE – Gage County officials are mulling whether to obtain gravel from a more distant source, to help get caught up on allocations to townships that need road material.  Gage County Road and Bridge Committee Chairman Terry Jurgens says it’s a topic that will likely come up at an annual township meeting, Thursday night in Beatrice. Jurgens said the schedule is a year behind on hauling, and local pits are not yet open or operating.


"There was a bid from R.L. Tiemann Construction from Central Sand and Gravel out of Columbus. The bids were higher, but everybody look at the percentages. I would like to look at this....pulling some material out of here, to at least get some of last year's finished up. Because this weather will change. Township roads will get bad again, as they always do."


There have been periodic shortages of materials as counties, cities and private contractors compete for material from the same limited number of sources.


The Gage County Board approved rock and gravel bids today, allowing the county to get gravel and rock from various sites, depending on the per-ton price, hauling distance and township location. Supervisors Chairman Erich Tiemann said a good supply of gravel is critical to maintaining good conditions.
"We've been toying with rock. Rock substitutes work, but I think that's a a temporary fix. The gravel is a long term fix for stability on the roads."


This is the farthest behind on road material allocations to townships in recent memory. Board member Gary Lytle said providing road materials is one of the more critical roles of the county.


"Because our roads are a big part of our county business. With smaller things, if we go to one retailer and they don't have the item, we go to another retailer. And, up to this point, we haven't done that. I agree wholeheartedly with Terry in this case. It's time to start going to the other retailer and buying the commodity we need, so we can take care of our roads the way we need to."


Tiemann expects the county may not yet begin addressing this year’s allocations until July or August. Jurgens says one hauler has suggested allowance of a fuel surcharge onto the past year’s prices to help catch up on hauling.


Supervisors on Wednesday approved a bid for this year’s armor-coat maintenance of nearly 35 miles of hard-surfaced roads. The bid of Midwest Coatings…$430,545…was about $70,000 under the next lowest bid.