There are rules to the bidding process, and our commissioners appear to believe that the rules do not apply to them, or Bennett County. Just 2 meetings ago, the BC Commissioners tried hiring the same contractor to screen rock for the county by bypassing the bidding process. Once again today, the commissioners opened bids on yet another project and disregarded the state laws. The agenda, says nothing about a bid opening taking place on 1-3-24. The notice for bid includes very little actual details, like an opening date and time of the bids, whether the replacement fence is to be the old existing fence, or new fence, where the auto gates are to come from, and who will be purchasing them, etc, etc. Apparently if you want more details, you can contact Commissioner Donovan, so that he can tell you all the details, as he sees fit. Oh, I almost forgot the best part, the bottom paragraph where is says the Commissioners reserve the right to waive informalities in bids, and the fact that you have to get the gravel from your competing bidder, the Whipple pit, or is that a different entity than Whipple Trucking? So, here is a recap of the meeting:
-Chairman calls for highway department on the agenda
-Chairman opens the first bid
-Donovan realizes "Bid Opening" is not on the actual agenda, former Auditor, and current Commissioner Williams, shows signs that she doesn't know if it matters
-Donovan approves the agenda, "with flexibility" (????) and changes the agenda to read "county line bids", still nothing about actually opening the bids, and these changes have not been posted in the 24 hours in advance.

-Public comment, where questions arise about the bidding process.