SIDNEY -- Cheyenne County has budgeted work on the Sheriff's Department's evidence building, including new fencing. 

Two companies submitted proposals for the fencing: Van Pelt of Scottsbluff and American Fence Company of the North Platte area.

When the bids were first opened in the last county commissioners meeting, the commissioners identified concerns with the bids: Van Pelt bid for fencing six feet high instead of the 8-feet, and American Fence Company bid for more fence than the bid request specified. 

The decision was tabled in the last meeting and brought back in the November 4 meeting. In the November 4 meeting, Sheriff Adam Frerichs shared his findings with the two bidders.

"As we left it in the last meeting, we received two bids for fence for the impound lot building. The first was from Van Pelt Fencing, Scottsbluff. The other one was American Fence Company. I believe he's out of the Grand Island area. There was some questions about the fencing. American Fence Company it appeared had quoted too many feet of fence to come up with their project pricing, and then Van Pelt Fencing had priced out six-foot chain link fence instead of eight-foot. So, I contacted both companies. American Fence Company is standing by their bid, and said that the bid does take out the two 40-foot swing gates. The 310 is just the overall length of the project. So, they're stating that yes, that is the correct bid for what we're trying to do," Frerichs said.

He also contacted Van Pelt Fencing who resubmitted a bid with eight-foot high fencing and barb wire across the top.

American Fence Company's bid comes in a $19,504.07. Van Pelt Fencing's bid comes in at $23,871.43. 

"I believe both of these bids are equal to each other, other than the pricing. We're actually comparing apples to apples now," Frerichs said.

The commissioners awarded the bid to American Fence Company of Grand Island for $19,504.07.