Concerns raised by Commissioners Johnny Hiers and Charlie Kennedy about the wide gap in bids were met with a general explanation from Public Works Director Matt Weldon before the Shell Mound dredging contract was approved, leaving key questions about pricing and cost oversight unanswered. For the record, this item was approved on a motion by Commissioner Desiree Mills, seconded by Commissioner Rock Meeks.
A low bid sets the starting number. Change orders determine the final cost.
By Linda Dean Cooper
Quick Read — What Matters
- Three bids ranged from $659K to $1.2M — a $500K+ gap
- Commissioners Hiers and Kennedy questioned the difference
- The explanation given did not address the pricing gap
- No detailed bid breakdown was presented to the Board
- Contracts allow costs to increase later through change orders
- Key question: Does the low bid stay low — or grow over time?
A Half-Million-Dollar Gap
A $659,116 dredging contract for the Shell Mound Boat Ramp was approved by the Levy County Commission on March 17 — but not before a significant concern was raised on the dais and left without a clear answer.
Three bids were submitted for the project:
- $1,208,500
- $1,064,450
- $659,116 (approved)
That’s more than a $500,000 difference between the highest and lowest bids. Commissioner Hiers didn’t let that pass without notice.
“We’re at a big difference on prices…”
Commissioner Kennedy also stayed engaged as the numbers were read into the record.
The issue was clear:
How can one company perform the same work for roughly half the cost?
The Answer That Wasn’t — and What Was Missing
Public Works Director Matt Weldon responded:
“It could depend on how busy those other companies are.”
For a gap of more than $500,000, the response came across as dismissive of a serious question — one that goes directly to how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
Sitting in the audience, the response came across as flippant and, given the size of the gap, felt like a slap in the face to the question raised by Commissioners Hiers and Kennedy and to the taxpayers footing the bill.
And while this project is funded through a grant, that doesn’t make it free money; it’s still taxpayer dollars, just coming from a different pocket.
Hiers and Kennedy weren’t asking a casual question. They were asking why one company could come in dramatically lower on the same project.
Instead of a clear explanation — scope, costs, or how the bids compared — the question was never actually answered.
If a gap this large doesn’t get a clear answer before approval, what does? And what does that say to the other bidders, were all bids evaluated on the same basis?
The Bigger Issue: What Happens After Approval — A Higher Final Bill
The bid documents show this contract includes standard provisions for:
- Change orders
- Work change directives
- Adjustments to quantities as needed
Those provisions allow the project scope and cost to be modified after approval. But what was not discussed at the meeting is what matters most to taxpayers:
- Who approves those changes?
- At what point do they come back before the Board, if at all?
- How are those increases tracked and reported to the public?
Because once a project is approved, cost increases do not come back as a new bid. They come back, or don’t, as change orders.
How a Bid Becomes a Bigger Bill
The price approved by the Board is based on the initial scope of work. But contracts like this include change orders. A change order allows additional work, and additional cost, to be added after the contract is approved.
Those changes can come from:
- Field conditions
- Additional work
- Increased quantities
- Project adjustments
They are not part of the original bid. They are added later. When a project starts with a bid significantly lower than others, the real question is:
Does that number hold, or grow over time?
What was not discussed:
- What triggers those changes
- Who approves them
- Whether they return to the Board
A low bid sets the starting number. Change orders determine the final cost.
Where Is the Accountability — or Is There a Back Door?
If a significant bid gap is identified but not explained before approval, how is the process protecting taxpayers?
Key questions remain:
- Who reviews and approves cost increases?
- When do those increases return to the Board?
- What role do procurement and finance play?
- How is the total cost tracked and reported?
These are not technical questions. They go directly to:
- Bid integrity
- Fair competition
- Protection of taxpayer dollars
And they lead to a concern many taxpayers will recognize:
If the lowest bid is approved without a clear explanation, does the process allow costs to come in later, through the back door of change orders?
What Comes Next
The project has now been approved. But the real test will be what happens next, as costs are managed, approved, and tracked through completion.
Watchdog Quick Check
- Why was the lowest bid $500K lower?
- Were all bidders pricing the same scope?
- What triggers a change order?
- Who approves those changes?
- Will the final cost be publicly tracked?
Bottom Line
Commissioners Hiers and Kennedy did what taxpayers expect. They asked the question. The answer didn’t match the seriousness of the issue. And the vote moved forward without clarity on how future costs will be handled.
Closing
Commissioners Hiers and Kennedy flagged a real issue. This bid, and how it was evaluated, needs a follow-up. Because this goes beyond one project. If a low bid is approved without a clear explanation, it raises a fair concern: are qualified bidders being evaluated on equal footing, or being pushed aside?
If the process isn’t clear, it risks discouraging complete and honest bids.
And that matters.
Taxpayers deserve a process where the lowest bid is the best bid, not just the starting number.
For readers who want to review the full agenda item and bid documents, a PDF has been posted on the Spotlight on Levy County Government website.
The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Desiree Mills and seconded by Commissioner Rock Meeks.
P.S. I will be following this project through to completion — including the final cost.
The PDF of the Shell Mound dredging bid agenda item is provided below.
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Posted March 19, 2026 | Spotlight on Levy County Government
