Port chooses broadband construction contractor

POMEROY-The Port of Garfield opened four bids from companies bidding for the construction contract for the broadband system installation at a special meeting December 19.

Proposals were received from Blue Mountain Telecommunications Services, Inc. (BMTS) out of Walla Walla, Wash., M&L Construction Inc. (MLC), Spokane, Wash., Pocket iNet Communications, Inc. (PNC), Walla Walla, Wash., and Summit Utility Contractors LLC (SUC) from Lewiston, Idaho.

BMTS submitted a bid for a total of $839,916.76; MLC for $633,733.73; PNC for $898,563.72; and SUC for $841,853.21.

Port Director Diana Ruchert and Port Commissioner Cody Bye acknowledged the bidders and announced that the Port would do its due diligence to be sure everything was in order in the bid packets, and that if everything checked out, they would be going with the lowest bid.

According to Bye, the lowest bid from MLC was approved by the commissioners at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Port District later that evening.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Port of Garfield Commissioners is set for January 21, 2020, at 6:30 p.m., in the Port Offices.