OXFORD – Some concern was raised Monday when the SAD 17 School Board awarded the snow plowing bid to Tibbetts Excavation for four elementary schools and the high school.

Board member Olive Sanborn was concerned that Tibbetts Excavation owner Gary Tibbetts may not be able to fulfill the contract because of medical problems. And board member Joe Vaillancourt wondered why the bidding wasn’t advertised in the newspaper.

Buildings and Grounds Director David Marshall said Tibbetts assured him he could be relied upon to provide the plowing services this winter, despite any medical issues. He has employees to help him with the work, Marshall said.

School Superintendent Mark Eastman said the job wasn’t advertised because of the district’s prior positive experience with Tibbetts, who typically offers to do the work for much less than other snow-removal companies.

Snow plowing bid requests were mailed to seven companies, and only Tibbetts returned bids on all five schools. Wayne Kennaugh Excavating offered to plow Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, but at twice the cost per storm.

Tibbetts will plow and sand the parking lot of OHCHS for $600 a storm, a price that applies regardless of the amount of snowfall. He’ll do the same at the Guy E. Rowe School for $175 a storm, at Madison Avenue Elementary School for $150 a storm, at Oxford Elementary School for $350 a storm, and at Hebron Elementary for $450 a storm.

The prices are good through the 2004-05 school year.