Commission Awards Contract for KOP Rail Extension After Negotiations; KDOT Approval Required

The Newton City Commission voted to accept a negotiated low bid and award a contract to Complete Tracks for the KOP rail extension, subject to Kansas Department of Transportation approval.

Staff told commissioners the project was bid on Sept. 25, 2025, and that all bids initially came in above the engineer's estimate. "All the bids that we received did come in over the engineer's estimate," a city staff member said, and added that staff negotiated with the low bidder and the project's engineer to lower the price below the estimate.

Staff said a principal change proposed by the contractor was to specify a heavier-weight, relayed rail; the city consulted the project engineer and a third-party rail operating company, and both supported using the relayed rail. The staff recommendation to award the negotiated bid was conditioned on receiving KDOT approval.

Commissioners asked about the low bidder's familiarity and past work. Staff said the contractor is "fairly sizable up north" with work in Grand Forks and the Dakotas and listed similar jobs in Parsons, Nebraska, and Minnesota on the bid documents. Commissioners expressed some caution about a geographically distant contractor but said the companyappeared experienced and acceptable after staff checks.

A commissioner moved to accept the bid "as presented." The motion was seconded; after no further discussion the commission voted in favor and the motion carried. The award is subject to KDOT approval, as stated during the motion.

Next steps listed by staff include finalizing contract documents and obtaining KDOT sign-off before work can proceed. Specific dollar amounts for the negotiated bid and the engineer's original estimate were discussed during the meeting but not clearly stated in a single confirmed figure on the record.

The item had been under city staff work since 2023 and was publicly bid in 2025; the award advances the project toward construction pending KDOT review.

Ending: The commission moved on to other agenda items after the vote; staff will return with finalized contract documents and any required KDOT correspondence once available.