SMOOTHING THINGS OVER: Ivy Bluff paving begins after long-term bickering
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Residents on Ivy Bluff Road were happy to see their aging oil-and-chip road surface being treated to a brand new layer of hot mix paving provided by current bid-winner APAC-TN.
Despite all the controversy surrounding the Warren County Highway Department and the Warren County Commission, Highway and Bridge Committee chairman Gary Prater said he hoped those involved could leave all the bickering behind and just get to work on the county’s roads.
“I’m tickled to death,” Prater said. “I’m excited about it. I’m glad to see it happen.”
APAC branch manager Jimmy Martin agreed it was good to have moved past the disputes.
“We’re glad to be able to be running some hot mix in this county and making somebody a good road to run on,” Martin said.
“We’re just glad to be doing it, thankful we’ve got the job and thankful to the people who let us do the work for them,” Martin continued.
Prater said he had spent time with some of the APAC employees since the project began Wednesday and was impressed with their work.
In fact, even though APAC has figured prominently in the controversy, Martin went so far as to offer Prater a tour of the company’s paving plant. Martin was eager to demonstrate the high-tech processes and equipment that will enable the company to do a top-notch job on the county’s roads.
Martin said although the company name had been featured in the controversy due to its participation in the bidding, APAC had actually been on the sidelines while the situation unfolded with no direct influence on the outcome.
Martin said the company considers itself a part of the community.
“Everybody here is local people,” Martin said, noting the company currently employs around 20. “And I hope someday we can make it 220.”
Prater said after talking to Martin he agreed that much of the increase in paving cost in the current bid was due to increases in oil and fuel prices – both at the plant and the trucks that haul the mix.
Road Superintendent Harold Glenn also pointed out the latest bid included a two-year warranty from APAC which added to the value of the agreement. Assistant Road Superintendent Levie Glenn will also be saving the county around $22,000 by inspecting the job himself, a service the state qualified Glenn to perform last year.
Road to higher paving costs
Local APAC manager Jimmy Martin said this year’s higher paving costs are the result of increases in oil and fuel prices, for both the hot mix itself and the trucks which haul it.