Bids for Phase II of the Stoddard County Courthouse cupola repair project were accepted during the commissioners meeting April Monday.
One bid was received from R.L. Persons Construction of Poplar Bluff, but the bid was substantially over the grant amount awarded to the county.
The county was awarded a grant for $60,000 from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and State Historic Preservation Office for cupola repairs including an alkyd enamel paint finish over copper flashing, apron flashing and counter flashing, removing and replacing the exterior windows, changing the fluid applied roofing warranty to 20-years and installing ceiling panels in the courthouse courtroom.
In addition to the $60,000 grant, the county will contribute $40,000 to the improvements. Construction is to be completed no later than Sept. 1.
Dale Rogers, Robert Stearns and Associates, Inc. president, asked R.L. Persons' representative in attendance, Kevin Hoggard, if anything in particular attributed to the high bid.
Hoggard said he thought the high price was attributed to the type of equipment used for the project being expensive to rent and keep on site.
Hoggard also added the cupola project was not an easy job to access.
Commissioners Carol Jarrell and Steve Jordan both said they would like to wait until next week to vote on whether or not to accept the bid.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis agreed the vote would take place during next week's commission meeting on Monday, April 16.
According to Rogers, if the commission were to reject the bid, they would have to wait 60 days and rebid the project.
He added the September completion date could still be met if the project were rebid. All bids are good for 30 days.
In other action:
* Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission Interim Executive Director Hannah Barnett completed a community needs assessment survey with commissioners for the Nestle Purina Project.
* County Clerk Joe Watson updated the commission on the April 3 election.
"The election went well," Watson said, adding voter turnout was 10.9 percent, the lowest turnout in the past three April elections.
Watson contributed not many contested races for the low turnout.
"Most voters came out in the morning before the weather," Watson said.
He added no power was lost when severe weather moved in around 5 p.m., but polls were temporarily shut down while storm sirens were sounded.
Polls reopened immediately after the severe weather moved out.
"The workers maintained the integrity of the election," Watson said. "No voters were disenfranchised."