At the Nov. 26 board of county commissioners meeting, the board approved a $1,364,039 contract with Wilson & Company to manage construction that will convert Woodmen Road from two lanes to four lanes between Powers Boulevard and Highway 24.John McCarty, director of the county’s transportation department, said the department qualified several companies to bid on the contract.Commissioner Douglas Bruce asked if Wilson & Company was the lowest cost bidder. McCarty said three companies had submitted bids that were higher than Wilson & Company’s bid and three companies submitted bids that were lower.Bruce asked why McCarty didn’t recommend awarding the contract to the lowest-cost bidder. McCarty said Wilson & Company had demonstrated an ability to work within the department’s time schedule and would be able to provide the required personnel.Bruce voted no on the resolution, saying the department’s selection process was flawed because it did not factor in the amount of the bid. Commissioners Sallie Clark, Jim Bensberg, Dennis Hisey and Wayne Williams voted yes.Andre Brackin, capital programs division manager for the county transportation department, said the department plans to advertise the construction bid in December. “Construction could begin as early as late January,” Brackin said.
