Commission accepts concrete bids

The Howell County Commission had a busy month in December. The commission heard and accepted bids on concrete low-water crossings, election equipment, and heard bids for road & bridge materials for 2025. This was also the last month for Billy Sexton as Southern Commissioner. On Dec. 31, Bruce Williams was sworn in as the new Southern Commissioner going forward.

 

The commission approved a bid from T & J Concrete, LLC for concrete work on seven low water crossings in the south end of the county at a cost of $252,5008. The crossings are on the following county roads: 3010, 6410, 6420, 6810, 6980, 7400, and 9180. There was a second bidder for concrete work. K. Davis Enterprises had placed a bid for the work at a cost of $261,192.88. The bids were opened on Dec. 9 and tabled for further consideration. The commission approved the low bid on Dec. 19.

 

The commission approved one bid for new election equipment on Dec. 19. The county received one bid from Atkins Election Services for 22 new election machines at a cost of $179,660. The county has set aside money into an election service fund to pay for the new equipment. The county is receiving $27,900 for trading-in their old machines. County Clerk Kelly Waggoner said about the older machines “They lasted 10 years, which is at least 5 years longer than most electronics.” Howell was one of three counties holding out on replacing their election machines, according to Waggoner, and these new machines are more secure, offer better feeding of ballots, and are more user friendly. The county will also be receiving a new handicap election machine. The bid from Atkins received unanimous approval from the commission.

 

The commission heard bids on materials used by the road and bridge departments for the north and south ends of the county yearly in December. These include bids on rock and gravel, plastic and metal pipe, and transport fuel. The county received rock bids from three companies: Indian Creek Materials, Capital Quarries, and S&S Quarry. The rock bids came with separate prices for the multiple sizes of stone, rip rap, and shot rock from each company. The county received two bids for pipe, one from Dicky's Culverts, LLC for metal and plastic pipe and one from ADS Pipe for plastic pipe. These are primarily bids for culverts used by the road and bridge dept. Finally, there was one bid for transport fuel from West Plains Propane. All of these were opened on Dec. 30 and tabled for further consideration.

 

The Howell County Commissioners are Presiding Commissioner Ralph Riggs, Northern Commissioner Calvin Wood, and Southern Commissioner Bruce Williams. The commission meets in regular session on Mondays and Thursdays, from 10 am to 3:30 pm. The meetings remain open during the lunch hour and are open to the public. Contact the commissioners' chamber by phone at (417) 256-3872.