By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After the bid came in more than three times the estimated project cost, the Ellis County Commission rejected a bid for reconstruction on the western portion of Old U.S. 40 at Monday evening’s meeting.

According to Tom Bennett with BG Consultants, the company earlier this month sent out requests for bids for the approximately 7-mile stretch between Yocemento and Ellis.

They received just one proposal from Sporer Land Development of Oakley for $1.9 million, about three times the estimated cost of $661,000.

Bennett said he believes the company misunderstood the project and they will rebid the project in three different phases.

Bennet said one of the key changes will be that instead of widening the shoulders to 4 feet the entire length of the project they instead will widen only in areas where they have too.

The county plans to advertise before Labor Day and will award the bid 21 days after publication.

In other business, the commission:

• Gave Sheriff Ed Harbin the go-ahead, pending a contract, to bring in a food services company for the newly remodeled jail. Harbin said they will be doubling the number of inmates and the added service should cut down on overtime for jail kitchen staff.

• Approved a resolution to sell the property at 1208 Cedar once the Ellis County Rural Fire Department moves into the Emergency Services Building later this fall. The county will accept sealed bids until Sept. 21 with the county reserving the right to reject all bids.

• Approved language in the county administrator job description giving the county — not the administrator — final say when it comes to terminating non-elected department heads. The vote was 2-1 in favor of the language. Commissioner Barb Wasinger voted against the measure. She said it gave the position more weight if the administrator could terminate personnel.