Foster Reservoir should have a third boat ramp by the end of this year.

The ramp would be the main attraction at Calkins Park, which Linn County plans to develop at Highway 20 and Quartzville Road east of Sweet Home.

The county received six bids for the project, which the Oregon State Marine Board estimates will cost $563,000. That includes construction of the boat ramp and a parking lot.

Only one of the bids was below the $563,000 estimate; one other was within $35,000. Don Causey of Salem bid $437,801, and Diamond N Construction of Silverton bid $584,350.

The rest exceeded the bid by $50,000 or more, with M.L. Houck Construction of Salem coming in the highest at $768,000.

Parks Director Brian Carroll opened the bids Wednesday at the Linn County Board of Commissioners’ meeting. He will review them and recommend one to the board next week.

Carroll said he hopes to have the parking lot constructed by early summer. The ramp can only be built when the reservoir is at its low level this fall, so Carroll hopes to have it done by the end of the year.

Democrat-Herald