University Star

Hays County Commissioners voted to choose a company to build a fence for the Jacob’s Well Natural Area during their Nov. 20 meeting.

Commissioners unanimously approved a bid from San Antonio-based Pecos Fence, Inc. to build boundary fencing for the Jacob’s Well Natural Area near Wimberley.

The boundary fence will include two pedestrian gates and two vehicle gates. It will contain 540 feet of cedar fencing to keep coyotes out of the area, as well as 640 feet of wire fence to keep out other types of game. The game fence within 200 feet of Cypress Creek will be segmented in order to break away in cases of flooding.

The commissioners agreed to award the requested $27,056 to the company, which, among five firms, was the estimated lowest cost for the project.

Four other firms from Canyon Lake, Austin and Wimberley submitted bids to build the fence, with estimates ranging from $37,087 to $151,924.

Commissioner Will Conley, Precinct 3, said the court made a valid effort to get the bid out to as many Hays County contractors as possible, but the decision was ultimately based on Pecos Fence’s pricing.

“(Pecos Fence is) just much lower on their bid to accomplish the job,” Conley said. “This court has had a big emphasis to do as much work locally as possible, but when you have the type of spread that we have had in these estimates, it’s just not fair to the taxpayers to move in that direction.”

Commissioners opened bidding for the project on Sept. 11 and closed the bidding period 16 days later.

The item also authorized the county judge to issue the contract documents for the project.

However, Judge Bert Cobb remained absent on medical leave.

Jacob’s Well Natural Area is a natural spring that flows from one of the largest underwater caves in Texas. The spring opens in the bed of Cypress Creek, just north of Wimberley.