Douglas County will stock up on asphalt for summer maintenance season.

Commissioners Monday approved a contract with Asphalt Sales of Lawrence to buy 8,001 to 13,000 tons of asphaltic concrete material at $38.95 per ton. Public works leaders estimate the county will need 10,000 tons to 12,000 tons to perform maintenance on county roads.

The county will purchase more than it typically does from one supplier. Public works usually buys 5,000 to 8,000 tons from a primary supplier, and another 1,000 to 5,000 tons from another, in case one plant halts production for repairs.

But Public Works Director Keith Browning recommended the contract include buying all asphalt from Asphalt Sales because of the price on purchasing it in bulk.

Commissioners unanimously approved the contract. However, if the county needs a secondary supplier this year, it would have to pay retail price.

Bettis Asphalt in Topeka actually submitted a lower bid of $37.20 per ton, but Browning recommended Asphalt Sales because it would cost less to transport the material from a Lawrence-area supplier.

The 2009 budget includes $425,000 to buy this type of asphaltic concrete.