County supervisors reject all bids for bridge on County Road 137

The Union County Board of Supervisors rejected all bids received last week for construction of a new bridge crossing Cane Creek on County Road 137.

All seven bids opened at the board’s July 18th meeting were well above the engineer’s estimated cost of $214,634. The lowest bid was by Buddy Ayers Construction Company of Corinth, which bid $303,689.85. Ausbern Construction Company of Okalona submitted the high bid of $445,816. Monday morning, July 25th, Consulting Engineer Jimmy Catt of the engineering firm Elliott & Britt asked that all bids be rejected and the board unanimously agreed. Catt recommended that the bridge specifications be revised and the project be re-bid.

The board approved the publication of a public hearing regarding the work on the Emerald Manufacturing Company building and approved payment of invoices regarding the project.

The board voted permission for a three-day tent revival on the library parking lot, subject to approval of the revival’s promoter’s liability insurance.

John Byers, Community and Economic Development Director of the Three Rivers Planning and Development District, told the board a grant of $150,000 for the improvement of an industrial park might be available. The board voted to apply for the grant before the deadline.

The supervisor’s scheduled a hearing for 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 25th, on the request of Metal Impact for an independent appraisal on its property. Metal Impact is challenging the assessment figures by the county collector and tax assessor.