Trustees give nod to bids for work at new campus

The Board of Trustees of the Lampasas Independent School District met Monday night to consider the recommendation of Blair Williams, construction manager at risk, for excavation/asphalt/paving, utilities and purchase of structural steel.

Williams, of Baird Williams Construction of Temple, is overseeing plans for the district's new high school and the elementary campus in the east end of the county, and soon will set up his site offices at the land on U.S. Highway 281 South.

Three entities -- all low bidders -- were awarded contracts.

For excavation/asphalt/paving, Ranger Excavation of Austin received the LISD's nod.

The base bid was for almost $1.4 million, with an alternate bid for fields and grass of $40,000.

Shane Jones, business manager for the LISD, said the district would not have the expense of hauling away dirt because plans call for it to be used in other areas of the campus, such as fields.

Excavation work should begin soon, he said.

For utilities, the bid was awarded to Bell Contractors of Belton for $867,500. The work consists of water lines and wastewater lines.

The structural steel contract was awarded to Bludau Fabrication, based in Hallettsville. Its bid of $1,291,000 will cover just the cost to purchase steel.

"These are all qualified bidders, and Blair is either familiar with or worked with all of them," said Jones.