Mathews County has received two bids for constructing county-owned telecommunications towers at sites in the county. The bids were opened at 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to an email from the Mathews County Administration offices. A request for proposals had been issued on Friday, Sept. 9.

According to the bid tabulation sheet, Edward L. Muller Construction Company of Charles City issued a bid in the amount of $808,496, with a projected completion time of 90 days. JG Contracting Company of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, bid $1,285,645, with a projected completion time of 46 days.

Both companies provided additional information, including certificates of non-collusion, references, bid bonds, and various other addenda.

The county had set aside $670,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for construction of the two towers, said Jeff Beekhoo, broadband consultant for Mathews, who has worked closely with the Broadband Advisory Board. He said that part of the problem with the higher cost...