If, in the opinion of the board of county commissioners, the contractor has not commenced his work within a reasonable time, does not carry such work forward with reasonable progress, is improperly performing his work, or has abandoned or failed to complete a contract entered into, the board shall make a finding to that effect, enter such finding on its journal, and so notify the contractor in writing, and the right of the contractor to control and supervise the work shall immediately cease. The board shall forthwith give written notice of the sureties on any bond of the contractor of such action. If, within ten days after receipt of such notice, such sureties, or any one or more of them, notify the board in writing of their intention to enter upon and complete the work covered by such contract, such sureties shall be permitted to do so and the board shall allow them twenty days after the receipt of such notice in writing from such sureties within which to enter upon the work and resume construction, unless the time is extended by the board upon good cause shown. If such sureties, entering upon the work, do not carry such work forward with reasonable progress or improperly perform, abandon, or fail to complete the work covered by such contract, the board shall complete the work in the manner provided in this section.

If, after receiving notice of the action of the board in terminating the control of the contractor over the work covered by his contract, the sureties on such contractor's bond do not within ten days give the board the written notice provided in this section, the board shall complete the work. The board shall first advertise the work for letting as provided by section 5555.61 of the Revised Code, and the estimated cost at which the work shall be advertised shall be the difference between the original contract price and the amount paid to the original contractor, and at such letting the contract for the completion of the work shall not be let at a price in excess of such estimate. If no bids to complete the work are received, the board shall cause that part of the work still uncompleted to be re-estimated, shall readvertise it at the amended estimate, and shall let the work for not more than such re-estimate. In reletting uncompleted work in the manner provided in this section, the contract shall be awarded by the board in accordance with sections 307.86 to 307.92 of the Revised Code. If the cost of completing the contract exceeds the amount of the balance of the fund set up for the original contract, the board may pay such excess out of any available funds for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of highways. When the estimated cost of completing a defaulted contract does not exceed five thousand dollars, the board may complete it by force account, or by contract let without advertising.

Effective Date: 08-01-1980 .