Moody County commissioners approved a bid for $69.831.30 for work on the sheriff’s office sidewalk project last week after rebidding the project when a contractor backed out last fall.

Late last summer, county commissioners had approved a bid of $40,305.80 from John Ryan Construction, based in Flandreau, to start work on the sheriff’s office sidewalk. The county had budgeted $50,000. In September, commissioners were informed by Brad Ciavarella of Ciavarella Design out of Mitchell, who created the design specifications for the project, that the local contractor had backed out of the project.

Facilities Manager Scott Lewis said he thinks Ryan’s left the project because of concerns involving foot traffic in and out of the building during construction and the utilities underneath the current sidewalk. Lewis also said he doesn’t think contractors like engineers looking over their shoulder; Ciavarella had told Ryan he would be checking on the project’s progress periodically.

The commissioners decided to shelve the project until this spring. They called for new bids on the project earlier in the year.

During a March meeting, the one sealed bid received was from Big Al’s Contracting LLC out of Sioux Falls. The company also bid during the first round of bids in the fall.

The approved bid totals $69,831.30. Before approving, Ciavarella met with the contractor to go over specifics of the project and make a recommendation to the commission.

Since receiving the bid, Commission Assistant Marty Skroch said they have heard a lot of good things about Big Al’s.

Ciavarella said he was very satisfied with the contractor’s understanding of the requirements for the project, especially the ADA requirements. He said waiting on the project and trying to rebid again could be risky.

“I know it’s higher than we all wanted to see, but that’s what it’s going to cost,” Ciavarella said. “We’re confident to where we would recommend approving the project. I just don’t think we’re going to get a better bid.”

Big Al’s anticipates starting work on the project around June 1; Sheriff Troy Wellman has asked that they wait until after a jury trial in May.

During the early stages of the project, foot traffic in the area in front of the sheriff’s office will have to be minimized for eight to 14 days.

If anyone needs to get into the office during those days, he or she will be asked to call dispatch so a city or county employee can open the back door.

The county plans to run ads in the Enterprise with more specific information about this leading up to the beginning of the project.