Nobleboro selectmen announced that they will put their winter road sand contract back out to bid after the initial awardee refused the town’s contract.
A few weeks ago, when Nobleboro selectmen opened sand bids the first time, Nobleboro resident Bill Dion was the only bidder for the contract, and the Nobleboro Board of Selectmen voted to award the contract to him for $10 per yard.
However, this year’s contract stipulated that the sand be delivered during a designated period of time beginning when the new sand/salt shed is completed, selectmen said. Dion reportedly refused the terms and declined to sign the contract.
Dion supplied the town’s sand two years ago. Last year, Nobleboro selectmen opted not to put the contract out to bid and awarded it to Linwood Fraser, a contractor out of Damariscotta that supplied the town’s sand for about five years prior to Dion.
As they have for years, Nobleboro will only advertise the bid in The Lincoln County News.
“The first time we got interest from companies as far away as Massachusetts” but no bids, said Selectmen Al Lewis. “Everybody says business is slow, but we’ll see what happens.”
Lewis said this time selectmen will actively call potential bidders in an attempt to draw interest in the contract.