Putnam Bus Garage Moving Toward Bid; Costs Cause Changes

Higher than expected construction prices causing some changes in how Putnam County will bid the new school bus garage.

Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said many of the price increases seen in construction since COVID remain an issue. He said the county will divide up the Tennessee Avenue project in an effort to get the costs where they need to be.

“The architects and engineers have been working on it,” Porter said. “Had to make some changes and changing the way that the bid was going to be. We’re looking to finish those in the next week or two, get the committee to meet, and then we put it out for bid and see where we’re at.”

Porter said his goal is to bid the project in September with numbers back in by October. One change that has happened in recent months, more companies are bidding on these types of projects, Porter said.

“We’ve been seeing several companies bid on the projects there for awhile,” Porter said. “We weren’t seeing very many, but I think it’s opening up some, and we’re hoping to see several companies bid on this one.”

The County Commissioners decided to build a new School Bus Garage and County Maintenance Facility on Tennessee Avenue. The current garage sits on valuable commercial land adjacent to Wal Mart, off South Jefferson Avenue. The county purchased a large parcel on Tennessee Avenue to use for county facilities off that next Cookeville exit.

Porter said he hopes to be moving dirt within the next six to nine months.

“My goal would be as we put the bids out in September, hopefully get those back in October, and look at awarding them towards the end of October,” Porter said. “And if not seeing ground move before the end of the year, at least by next spring.”