Vernal awards $1.6 million 500 South paving job; one councilmember recuses
Vernal's council on Sept. 16 awarded the 500 South mill-and-overlay project to Burdick Materials for $1,599,895, the low of three bids and below an engineer's estimate of about $2 million. Councilmember Randel Mills recused himself, citing a conflict of interest.
Continuing story: Auditing Vernal
Vernal's council on Sept. 16 awarded the 500 South mill-and-overlay project to Burdick Materials for $1,599,895, according to the meeting's minutes. [1]
The minutes say the city received three bids, which were relatively close, and that Burdick's was the lowest. Staff said the engineer's estimate was approximately $2 million. The minutes do not name the other bidders or their amounts. [1]
The recusal
"Councilmember Randel Mills recused himself from the discussion and vote due to a conflict of interest," the minutes say. They do not describe the conflict. [1]
Councilmember Ted Munford moved to approve the award and Councilmember Ed Long seconded. Munford, Long, Robin O'Driscoll and Nick Porter voted yes. [1]
Funding and schedule
The minutes say the project is funded through $3.4 million in Community Impact Board funding for two related projects, and that about $1.6 million remains for chip seal work next year. [1]
Paving was anticipated to be complete by Oct. 22, 2026. [1]
The award is a council authorization, not a final cost or payment. A recusal is a disclosed step to keep a member out of a decision; no record reviewed suggests any wrongdoing. The Sept. 16 minutes are as posted on the city's website; the records reviewed do not show the vote approving them.
Sources
Reporting by The Utah Ledger from the public records above. AI-assisted, checked against those records.