Engineer's briefing: MPO‑funded resurfacing and Elton Dean Park walking‑trail prompt questions about bids and consultant use
January 21, 2026 | Montgomery County, Alabama
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County engineer George Speake briefed the Montgomery County Commission on several transportation projects that will be carried into the FY27 budget cycle, including MPO‑funded resurfacing of Butler Mill Road and Gibson Goodwin Road (federal 80%/county 20% match) and phases 1 and 2 of a walking trail at Elton Dean Park.
Speake said the walking‑trail work is a TAP grant project that requires federal compliance and a 20% county match; he provided an estimated county match of roughly $46,000 for the trail contract and said consultant engineering estimates guided procurement. "We have a bond and everything on it," Speake said, describing the contract and bond protections for the county.
Commissioners raised concerns about a large discrepancy between two bids for the trail work, with Jackson Civil Construction submitting substantially higher unit prices than McDonald Construction. A commissioner asked whether Jackson understood the scope; staff said the consultant (Crow engineering) prepared the estimate and that consultants were required because the project includes extensive surveying and ADA compliance beyond routine resurfacing work.
Staff and commissioners discussed why the county uses consultants on TAP and other grant‑funded projects. Engineering staff said much of the additional work—surveying, ADA requirements and grant‑required design standards—exceeds routine resurfacing staff capacity; consultants are often covered in part by grant funds and prevent conflicts of interest because a firm that prepares grant documents generally cannot bid on the construction contract.
No final award or vote was recorded at the session; staff said the consultant recommended awarding the walking‑trail contract to McDonald Construction and that bonding will ensure completion. Commissioners asked staff to provide the consultant estimate and a breakdown of engineering fees (staff said engineering fees typically run about 15% of construction costs and that they would supply the exact figure).
Next steps: staff will provide requested bid comparisons and cost breakdowns for commission review ahead of the formal award and inclusion in the FY27 budget process.
Speake said the walking‑trail work is a TAP grant project that requires federal compliance and a 20% county match; he provided an estimated county match of roughly $46,000 for the trail contract and said consultant engineering estimates guided procurement. "We have a bond and everything on it," Speake said, describing the contract and bond protections for the county.
Commissioners raised concerns about a large discrepancy between two bids for the trail work, with Jackson Civil Construction submitting substantially higher unit prices than McDonald Construction. A commissioner asked whether Jackson understood the scope; staff said the consultant (Crow engineering) prepared the estimate and that consultants were required because the project includes extensive surveying and ADA compliance beyond routine resurfacing work.
Staff and commissioners discussed why the county uses consultants on TAP and other grant‑funded projects. Engineering staff said much of the additional work—surveying, ADA requirements and grant‑required design standards—exceeds routine resurfacing staff capacity; consultants are often covered in part by grant funds and prevent conflicts of interest because a firm that prepares grant documents generally cannot bid on the construction contract.
No final award or vote was recorded at the session; staff said the consultant recommended awarding the walking‑trail contract to McDonald Construction and that bonding will ensure completion. Commissioners asked staff to provide the consultant estimate and a breakdown of engineering fees (staff said engineering fees typically run about 15% of construction costs and that they would supply the exact figure).
Next steps: staff will provide requested bid comparisons and cost breakdowns for commission review ahead of the formal award and inclusion in the FY27 budget process.
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