The Ellsworth County commissioners opened three sealed bids Monday from companies wishing to be selected to demolish and replace the bridge west of 11th Road on Old 40 Highway next year.

The three companies and their bids are: L&M Contracting, Great Bend, $773,021.60; Reece Construction, Salina, $830,137.30; and Bridges Inc., Newton, $1,026,454.10. Josh Beckman, an engineer with Ellsworth’s Kirkham Michael, will review the bids and make a recommendation to the commissioners so that a notice of award can be made at an upcoming meeting. Work is expected to begin by March 16, 2020 and last seven-and-a-half months, depending upon the weather.

Dale Houston, county road and bridge superintendent, said the detour will be on Interstate 70. Signs will be posted in Ellsworth and Wilson.

In other business:

• Teresa Shute, supervisor of the county noxious weed department, said she was asked by a Rice County commissioner to provide all chemical usage records for 2018. The commissioner also gave Shute two names to look up. Shute had record of just one of the names dating back to 2002. She said she was told farmers were purchasing chemical in Rice County and spraying it on fields in Ellsworth County. As such, Rice County commissioners have limited the amount of chemical individual farmers can purchase from the county at $300 per year.

• No action was taken after a 10 minute executive session with county clerk Shelly Vopat to discuss non-elected personnel.