DOBSON — One good thing has sprung from the downturn in the economy, and that is, construction bids are coming in much lower for several projects around Surry County.

Jack Gardin, water and sewer projects manager, named the winning bidder for a project that was estimated to cost $1.3 million. He announced Monday night at the commissioners’ meeting that Ramey Construction will be installing water lines for the Forrest Oaks, Surry Acres, Central District elementary school and a sewer force main back from the school for the bargain price of $923,373, which will save the county about $400,000.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve Ramey Construction for the job. Work on the project will begin as soon as the contract is signed, Gardin said.

In addition to providing water and sewer to the school, it will also bring water to about 100 homes in the Dobson area. Gardin said work began on this particular project in the fall of 2007.

“Folks had been contacting us for quite a while. So that fall, we sent out survey forms to see what the need was. That was about the time that the N.C. Rural Center offered up grant funding that helped make this possible,” Gardin said. The Rural Center gave Surry County $526,500 for the project.

“I’m hoping the part to the school will be completed in June,” Gardin said.

A bidder for the construction on the Central District elementary school is expected to be announced at the next meeting of the Surry County Board of Education. The bid for that project came in at $7.4 million for a project which was originally estimated at $12 million.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.