(a) Whenever the plans and specifications for water, sewerage, drainage, or solid waste systems or extensions have been completed and the board has decided to proceed with construction, it shall solicit bids for the construction of the system or systems, in part or as a whole, it judges advisable. The contract shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder or the board may reject any or all bids. If in its judgment the prices quoted are unreasonable or unbalanced, it may obtain bids for the work or any part of it or may do any part or all of the work by day labor. At any time the board may expend by day labor for construction and for supplies and equipment an amount not exceeding $5,000 without advertising and receiving bids. All such contracts shall be protected by such bonds, penalties, and conditions as required by the board, all of which shall be enforced in any court having jurisdiction.
(b) (1) Instead of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the board may authorize a private person to have plans and specifications for a water, sewerage, or drainage system prepared at the expense of the person.
(2) The board also may allow the person to obtain price quotations or bids for the construction of water, sewerage, or drainage systems and to enter into contracts for the construction of the system.
(3) When constructed in accordance with the specifications and under this inspection of the board of county commissioners, the system shall become county property and included in the water, sewerage, or drainage systems of the county.
(4) The systems authorized by this subsection may be constructed with funds provided by the private person.
(5) The board may participate in the cost of construction in accordance with the board’s regulations when the board determines that its financial participation is required in the construction of a water and sewer system undertaken by a private developer that provides facilities beyond the requirements of the system.
(6) Under the provisions of this section, the board may participate financially only to the extent that the costs of materials or other costs totaling $10,000 or less exceed the requirements of the private project.
(Code 1959, § 10A-17; 1968, Chapter 609, § 1; 1979, Chapter 723, § 1; 1988, Ch 426, § 1; 1991, Chapter 194, § 1)
Editor’s note:
Ch. 723 of the 1979 Acts designated the above section as section 10A-17 of the 1959 county code; however, such section constitutes an amendment and renumbering of former section 10A-11 of the 1959 Code.