During Tuesday’s Neosho County Commission Meeting, further discussion was had about purchasing new graters.
Jared Heckman from Foley Equipment returned in front of the commission, presenting sales agreement options. Several of the county’s graders have recently been paid off, with a plan to trade in those machines for newer models.
Commissioner Paul Westhoff said he recommended purchasing two two-wheel-drive graders.
Road and Bridge Director Mike Brown said that he felt having two four-wheel drive vehicles in the county would better suit the needs of road crews and allows there to be one four-wheel drive grader on either end of the county.
“There is a huge difference in how they perform,” Brown said. “Whether you’re pushing snow or cleaning a ditch out or whatever, they make a tremendous difference.”
Commissioner Nick Galemore said he wasn’t opposed to purchasing a tandem machine, which could assist in snow removal or cleaning ditches.
Commissioners moved to accept a sales agreement with Foley Equipment for two Caterpillar 140 graders, including an all-wheel drive model, trading in graders 93 and 98. The total amount to go out for a finance bid is $622,223.
In radio upgrade news, 911 Director Lori Nally said the new radio towers in Stark and Thayer have been completed.
“With that said, we’re still waiting on some of the mobile radios, and the programming and stuff like that,” Nally said.
She said that the system should be fully online in the next two weeks.
Commissioner Gail Klaassen said the county received a check for $25,000 from Liberty to go toward this project.
“I can honestly say after working with both chiefs on this, they are excited to have an updated system,” Nally said.
A motion to amend a motion made on June 17 to pay Uplink LLC $500 was approved, due to additional material costs. The amendment changed the billing total to $647.31, which will be paid from the pilot fund.
Road and Bridge Director Mike Brown discussed a quote received from Bettis Asphalt & Construction to overlay and stripe Elk Road from the county line to Ashgrove Road for $395,130.
Brown said an engineering proposal from Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers would cost $47,800.
Commissioner Klaassen said completing this overlay while the bridge is out would be ideal.
Commissioners moved to accept the estimate from Bettis, and Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers.
In other business, a motion to approve a purchase order and five-year lease for a new mailing machine for $361.20 per year, and adjusting the 2025 payment amount to Southeast Kansas Mental Health to $1.
The next Neosho County Commission meeting will be held at the Neosho County Courthouse on Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. Meetings are also streamed on the Neosho County Commission YouTube Channel.
