§ 156-84. Letting contracts.
§ 156‑84. Lettingcontracts.
The board of drainage commissioners shall cause notice to be given ofthe letting of the contract. The notice shall be posted at the courthouse doorin the county wherein the district was organized. Notice shall be posted no lessthan 15 days prior to the opening of the bids and shall be published at leastonce a week for two consecutive weeks immediately prior to the opening of thebids, in some newspaper published in the county wherein such improvement islocated, if such there be, and such additional publication elsewhere as theymay deem expedient, of the time and place of letting the work of constructionof such improvement, and in such notice they shall specify the approximateamount of work to be done and the time fixed for the completion thereof; and onthe date appointed for the letting they, together with the superintendent ofconstruction, shall convene and let to the lowest responsible bidder, either asa whole or in sections, as they may deem most advantageous for the district,the proposed work. No bid shall be entertained that exceeds the estimated cost, except for good and satisfactory reasons it shall be shown that theoriginal estimate was erroneous. They shall have the right to reject all bidsand advertise again the work, if in their judgment the interest of the districtwill be subserved by doing so. The successful bidder shall be required to enterinto a contract with the board of drainage commissioners and to execute a bondfor the faithful performance of such contract, with sufficient sureties, infavor of the board of drainage commissioners for the use and benefit of thelevee or drainage district, in an amount equal to no less than 25 nor more thanone hundred per centum (100%) of the estimated cost of the work awarded to him.In canvassing bids and letting the contract, the superintendent of constructionshall act only in an advisory capacity to the board of drainage commissioners.The contract shall be based on the plans and specifications submitted by theviewers in their final report as confirmed by the court, the original of whichshall remain on file in the office of the clerk of the superior court and shallbe open to the inspection of all prospective bidders. All bids shall be sealedand shall not be opened except under the authority of the board of drainagecommissioners and on the day theretofore appointed for opening the bids. Thedrainage commissioners shall have power to correct errors and modify thedetails of the report of the engineer and viewers if, in their judgment, theycan increase the efficiency of the drainage plan and afford better drainage tothe lands in the district without increasing the estimated cost submitted bythe engineer and viewers and confirmed by the court. (1909, c. 442, s. 21; 1911, c. 67, s. 4; C.S., s.5341; 1959, c. 806; 1963, c. 767, s. 6.)