Atchison commission approves fire pumper, US‑59 resurfacing and $200,000 in ARPA nonprofit grants

The Atchison City Commission on March 2025 approved a series of spending and contract actions, including purchase of a frontline fire pumper, a state‑assisted resurfacing contract for U.S. 59 and $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) nonprofit grants.

The measures passed by voice vote after presentations from staff and brief debate. Mayor Mary Young and the four commissioners present voted in favor of each item.

The most costly item approved was a contract to resurface U.S. 59, authorized to Herzog Contracting Corporation for $866,894.10 with a total project authorization of $885,000 to allow for minor change orders. McNamee, the project presenter, said the work was packaged to match the Kansas Department of Transportation City Connecting Links Improvement Program (CCLIP) funding rules and noted the bid met the program's 90/10 reimbursement split. McNamee told commissioners the city would be reimbursed for 90% of eligible costs, and that the FY2026 portion of reimbursement would not be available until KDOT's fiscal year begins July 1, 2025.

The commission also authorized staff to buy a 2024 Spartan SC94 pumper from Emergency Apparatus Sales and A Fire Services, Inc., for $602,000, with budget authority of up to…