The Cole County half-cent sales tax, recently reapproved by voters, will fund the paving of a nearly 4-mile stretch of road in the county by the end of the year.
Swift Road, which turns into Boise Brule Road, will be paved from U.S. 54 to Route H. The road is in the southern part of the county, near Eugene and Henley.
The Cole County Commission on Tuesday approved a $2.3 million contract with Don Schneiders Excavating for the work, which includes paving the gravel road, as well as work on three bridges/box culverts along the stretch.
Five companies bid on the project, and Schneiders was the low bidder.
The project required area residents to submit a petition, then it had to meet various criteria. One requirement was at least 125 vehicles have to travel the road daily.
Commissioners said paving the road also would help emergency vehicles that need to travel along that stretch.
Also at the meeting, the commission approved:
• Signing of a deed conveyance for two Osage City lots that the county deemed surplus property. The lots were sold for $3,260 each.
• Purchase of a law enforcement file server for up to $8,600.
• A grant application for playground equipment at Brooks Park. If approved, a federal grant administered through the Department of Natural Resources would pay for $47,255 of the $84,440 cost.
• Renewal of a bid with Bob Barker Company for inmate welfare products.
• Renewal of a bid with ABI Management for inmate food services.
• Renewal of a bid with Rollins Automotive for Sheriff’s Department vehicle fleet maintenance.