Oconee to request private sector bids

If Oconee County crews grade the property for the Tri-County Technical College campus, that shuts out the private sector.  County council members heard the resulting complaints.  Last night the council agreed to place the construction site preparation project out for bids.  But if necessary to save money and meet time deadlines, the county will keep the option of using its own workers. Engineering on the project will be done by the Greenville firm Thomas and Hutton, whose contract price is nearly $489 thousand dollars.  Thrift added that when the council in October approved the $4 million bond issue to fund the project it was his understanding that the project would be put out for bid.   County administrator Scott Moulder explained that plans call for the county to break ground on January 15, and the county has to have the site prepared by April to meet the timetable to begin construction of the Tech campus. Not using the bidding process, Moulder said, could save the county as much as 45 days on the schedule. Only Councilman Wayne McCall voted against putting the project out for bids.