BEATRICE – Gage County officials Wednesday selected an Iowa contractor to do maintenance work on just under 31 miles of asphalt roads this year.

Sta-Bilt Construction of Harlan, Iowa submitted to low bid of $399,424 for armor-coating eleven road sections near Clatonia, Ellis, Beatrice, Wymore, Blue Springs and Barneston.  One other bid was received from TopKote, Inc. of Yankton, South Dakota, totaling $417,597. 

Sta-Bilt indicated the work is planned to start around May 10th and be completed by about May 28th.

The Gage County Board also received two bids to supply county vehicles with fuel for this year.  The supervisors approved the bid of Sapp Brothers Petroleum for 63,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 32,000 gallons of E-Ten unleaded gas.   The diesel price is about $1.87 per gallon….while the unleaded price is about $2.06 per gallon.    

The board plans to act in two weeks on a plan to establish a temporary asphalt and concrete plant near Clatonia this year. 

The plan by Werner Construction in Hastings relates to a couple of large highway projects this year.  The plant would be put in place about two miles east of Clatonia, along Nebraska Highway 41. 

It would be used to serve a planned paving project along U.S. Highway 77 from the Pickrell corner north to Nebraska Highway 41.  The second project is from Barneston to the east.

There was no public opposition or support testimony during a hearing before the board.   Gage County Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand says the commission previously recommended approval of the plant permit application.

The Gage County Board also approving taking bids for rock and gravel supplies for a one-year period, beginning March 10th.  Bids will be reviewed on February 24th.   The supervisors also approved the reappointment of Terry Acton to the Gage County Planning and Zoning Commission, for a three-year term ending in January, of 2024.