Commissioners approve Vulcan Materials price adjustments; fuel surcharge requires contract amendment

The court considered a vendor request to increase material prices and to add a fuel adjustment under an existing IFB (2025-004) for road materials. Commissioners and staff noted that material-price escalation language exists in the contracts but that fuel charges were not in the original bid and therefore need a contract amendment.

One commissioner asked, "So how much is the fuel adjustment?" and a speaker replied, "It's $2 per ton." County counsel advised the group that adding fuel would require an amendment, which the county attorney's office can draft, and discussed limiting the amendment through Dec. 31 while the county goes back out to bid.

The court voted to approve proceeding with the price adjustments and directed the county attorney to prepare the necessary contract amendment. Staff said material and hauling prices across suppliers are rising and that the county will attempt to include escalation language in the next solicitation.