Commissioners approve solicitation of bids to replace failing on‑site wastewater system under KDHE grant

The Miami County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 20 authorized staff to solicit proposals and price quotes to replace a failing on-site wastewater system using a grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Jason Ledbetter of Code Services told commissioners the county received KDHE grant funding to repair or replace a failing system for one county resident whose system had been cited in codes enforcement and gone through codes court. Ledbetter said the county sought outside contractors to perform the work. Commissioner Vaughn moved to approve the solicitation as presented; Commissioner Dideker seconded. The motion passed unanimously. “All in favor, aye… Unanimous approval,” the clerk said. Ledbetter and other speakers stressed the goal of fixing the failing system so the resident would not be forced from their home. “Without, basically saying evicting it's somebody from their home because their wastewater doesn't work,” Ledbetter said. The board did not select a contractor at the meeting; the action authorized solicitation of proposals and price quotes as the next step in procurement, and staff will return with responses for procurement actions as required by county procedures.