The City of Vidor says a contractor shortage in southeast Texas is causing an unexpected delay in building a new city hall. City business has been conducted out of a doublewide trailer since the city hall building was destroyed by hurricane Rita. Progress has been slow and steady, but the city has recently hit a snag.

Vidor Mayor Ray Long tells KBMT 12 news the city opened the city hall construction project to bids last year, but unfortunately it did so at the same time Lamar University, the Beaumont School District and the Port Arthur school district were all involved in bidding for various projects. The competition resulted in higher than desired bids submitted to the city. Mayor long says the city only received 3 bids and has been forced to reject them because they were too high.

The city of Vidor plans to re-open the project to the bidding process next week. Mayor Long says now that most of the big projects in Jefferson County seem to be moving along, there may be a better chance of getting a bid that meets the city’s needs.