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McPherson County awards 2025 milling and oil contracts, approves KDOT bridge agreement and $50,000 maintenance work
Summary
The county approved a phased milling contract, awarded oil supply contracts to Ergon, authorized a KDOT bridge project agreement with a KDOT cap of $950,000 and approved up to $50,000 for minimum maintenance on a road into Maxwell Game Preserve.
McPherson County commissioners voted to award contractors for road millings and oil supplies, approved a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) bridge project agreement and authorized limited maintenance work on a game preserve road at their March 31 meeting.
The county awarded the bid for the 2025 milling project on a two‑phase schedule (Option 2) not to exceed $303,704.95, and gave the public works director authority to negotiate scheduling or a one‑time full‑milling option if contractor availability requires it. Public Works Director Dave Von Bliss said the two‑phase approach would reduce the time drivers travel on rough milled surfaces and lower the chance of road damage; he also noted more millings will be available for reuse in the county asphalt plant.
Von Bliss recommended awarding three oil products used in county road work to Ergon: CRS‑1H (chip seal), tack oil and PG‑64‑22 (asphalt oil). Commissioners approved awarding all three products to Ergon with a combined total not to exceed $1,554,097.06. Von Bliss told commissioners that oil prices are down from last year and that the county budgeted roughly $1.8 million for asphalt/oil work.
The board approved advertising two county maintenance positions — a maintenance worker and a maintenance worker/sign shop position — to fill vacancies and adjust duties for sign shop work.
On a separate item, commissioners approved and signed a project agreement with KDOT for the KL BIP bridge improvement project for McPherson County Bridge No. 075010, located on Arapahoe Road three miles south and 0.5 miles west of Inman. Von Bliss said KDOT’s share shall not exceed $950,000 and that McPherson County would provide a 15% local cost share; the design would occur this year with construction expected next year. Commissioners were told the road is currently open and that the project would likely require a road closure during replacement.
The board also approved up to $50,000 for minimum maintenance work on 20th Avenue heading west into the Maxwell Game Preserve (ditch work and gravel). Von Bliss said the work could address liability concerns and that Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism might assist.
Votes at a glance: all motions listed above passed with the board responding “aye” in roll call and the chair noting “motion carries.”
Background and context: Von Bliss explained option 2 for milling is slightly more expensive overall but could reduce driver complaints and road damage compared with milling an entire project at once. He said hauling of millings and traffic control are included in the contract, and that increased millings availability can reduce future asphalt costs through reuse at the county plant.
Commissioners asked about scheduling, hauling, frequency of past projects and whether added mileage into Inman could be included if the city agrees to pay the extra cost.
Ending: Von Bliss said he and city officials would inspect a possible half‑mile into Inman and report back. He also said he would follow up on the county asphalt plant pump issue and with contractors about scheduling and hauling.
