Commissioners discuss using $46,000 contingency from Gibson Bridge project for road surfacing or limited riprap

Adam (project engineer on phone) told commissioners the Gibson Bridge low bid was below the budgeted amount, leaving roughly $46,000 of contingency funds tied to the coal board award. He said the coalition/coal‑board allowed using contingency so long as work stayed within the original contract scope (engineering and construction related to the Gibson‑Road bridge replacement).

Adam suggested two candidate uses: (1) buy surfacing material and have county crews regrade and surface Gibson Road ties to the new approach elevations, or (2) replace the planned soil grading on a bridge front with a modest amount of Class 1 riprap to reduce maintenance. Adam cautioned that riprap would require ditch‑company approval. "If Robin and those guys are going to do the work there, you guys might be able to claim that as in‑kind cost," he said, and offered to request ballpark prices from the contractor.

Commissioners prioritized surfacing the disturbed road as the first option; if funds remain they asked to consider riprap for longer bridge life. They asked staff to get contractor estimates for surfacing and riprap, and to report back with costs and whether the YID/ditch company would allow riprap in the channel. Adam committed to ask the contractor for a preliminary price and to follow up.

Action items recorded at the meeting were: obtain an estimated cost for road surfacing tied to the Gibson Bridge contract; ask the contractor for a riprap price and feasibility; and clarify whether county in‑kind crew time could be used as match under the coal‑board rules.