Pierce County commissioners approve $828,158 paving contract and several equipment purchases

The Pierce County Board of Commissioners voted May 7 to award the Sandy Bottom Road paving contract to Thrift Brothers, LLC for $828,158.58, approve the purchase of four radio repeaters for $15,046.00, authorize up to $20,000 from General Funds to buy a used flatbed truck for the Road Department, and to start negotiations with Enterprise for fleet management services.

Chairman Neal Bennett summarized bid results, saying the county received three bids and recommending the lowest from Thrift Brothers; Commissioner David Lowman moved to approve the contract and Commissioner Harold Rozier seconded. The motion carried. The board recorded that funding for the Sandy Bottom contract will come from the Transportation Improvement Account (TIA).

On equipment, Commissioner David Lowman moved to purchase four radio repeaters from Two Way Communication of Douglas, Ga., at a total cost of $15,046.00; Commissioner Graham Raley seconded and the motion carried. Later in the meeting, fleet consultant Jean Bordes presented potential savings using Enterprise; the board directed County Manager Raphel Maddox to review the numbers and voted to begin negotiations (motion by Lowman, second by Rozier, carried).

Chairman Bennett also asked for authorization to spend up to $20,000 from General Funds to obtain a used flatbed truck for the Road Department; the board approved the request on a motion from Lowman seconded by Rozier.

Votes at a glance:
- Add Transportation Board to agenda (motion: David Lowman; second: Harold Rozier) — outcome: approved (motion carried). (SEG 011)
- Approve May 7, 2024 agenda (motion: David Lowman; second: Harold Rozier) — approved. (SEG 012013)
- Approve minutes, April 22, 2024 (motion: David Lowman; second: Randy Dixon) — approved. (SEG 014017)
- Purchase four radio repeaters, Two Way Communication — $15,046.00 (motion: David Lowman; second: Graham Raley) — approved. (SEG 023024)
- Start negotiations with Enterprise for fleet management (motion: David Lowman; second: Harold Rozier) — approved. (SEG 029032)
- Approve 2024 Local Road Assistance (LRA) application (motion: David Lowman; second: Graham Raley) — approved. (SEG 033)
- Award Sandy Bottom Road paving to Thrift Brothers, LLC — $828,158.58 (motion: David Lowman; second: Harold Rozier) — approved; funding from TIA. (SEG 034035)
- Authorize up to $20,000 to purchase a used flatbed truck (motion: David Lowman; second: Harold Rozier) — approved. (SEG 036037)

The meeting record lists each motion with the mover and seconder; where the transcript reports only "the motion carried," no roll-call tally is provided. The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

Ending: The commissioners completed the listed procurement and administrative actions and adjourned; the board asked commissioners to present names for a proposed Transportation Board at the next regular meeting.