Stoddard County awards $2.8 million bid for new county government building

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County commissioners met Monday morning to accept a $2.8 million bid for a new county government building to be erected in the Bloomfield courthouse square.

The bid, submitted by Sides Construction of Jackson, was one of five received at last week's bid opening.

According to architect Dale Rogers of Sikeston, Mo., work will likely begin within 10 days.

The board also voted to include all three of the alternate projects that were bid out: an elevator, a backup generator and an extended warranty on the roof.

Rogers said he has worked with this company on several different projects over the years and that they do great work.

The next step in the process is for Rogers to send out the award letter and begin filing wage rate information with the government.

The Stoddard County Government Building, as it has been dubbed, will house the county clerk, assessor, collector, recorder, prosecuting attorney and will have meeting facilities for the county commission. The building will also supply ample storage space for the county's documents.

Commissioner Frank Sifford has also pointed out on several occasions the importance of having another useful facility to use as a shelter in the event of an emergency. He said they learned a lot this year and are hoping to be proactive in the event of a similar incident.