Freestone county commissioners bypassed the lowest bid of $230,000 for a new road and bridge maintenance building in precint three, citing a lack of familiarity with firsttime bidder JKL General Contractors of Corsicana.

Instead the contract was awarded to another firsttime bidder Lide Industries of Mexia which submitted a bid $2,800 higher, at $232,800.

In all, the county received six bids ranging from $230,000 to $315,480.

County architect Sterling Thompson of Waco reviewed the bid with JKL General Contractors' owner Jerry Libal to verify that all of the project's specifications had been met.

Thompson also verified the company's references.

Based on his findings, the county architect recommended that commissioners award the bid to JKL General Contractors, as did county auditor Brittania Brown.

But despite meeting all the requirements and submitting the lowest bid, the Corsicana contractors were left with little explanation for their bid's rejection.

Commissioner Stanley Gregory told Libal, " I just feel more comfortable going with Lide. I know them and I know their work."

Gregory also claimed that of the six contractors bidding on the project, JKL was the only company which did not inspect the construction site pad.

But according to bid specifications the building pad preparation is the responsibility of the owner, i.e. Freestone county.

In fact, the bid specifications included pad requirements set by project engineer and architect Thompson which were to be met prior to construction.

Libal drove to Fairfield to answer questions after Gregory registered his hesitation to grant the contract.

According to Texas Local Government Code the contract must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.

But if it is not awarded to the lowest bidder the contract cannot be granted until each lower bidder is given notice of the proposed award and is given the opportunity to appear before the governing body.

Within 40 minutes, Libal appeared before commissioners only to be told that his company had submitted the lowest bid, but would not be awarded the contract because county officials did not "feel" comfortable.