Pratt County commissioners adopt rural opportunity zone resolution, award road and county projects; other motions approved

The Pratt County Board of Commissioners voted on a series of resolutions, contracts and budget items during its Feb. 24 meeting, including authorizing participation in the state’s Rural Opportunity Zone program and awarding an overlay contract for Northeast 30th Street (the “Ethanol Plant Road”).

The board adopted the annual rural opportunity zone resolution for calendar year 2025, allowing local employers and the county to participate in the Kansas Department of Commerce program. The board recorded the resolution under internal file number 02242025 and approved it by voice vote.

In procurement actions, commissioners opened and reviewed three bids for the Northeast Thirtieth Street overlay: APAC Kansas ($574,482.09), Venture Corporation ($544,665.60) and Heft and Sons LLC ($486,297.94). The board awarded the project to Heft and Sons LLC as the lowest responsible bidder and directed staff to prepare contract documents and the notice of award. The county’s engineer had estimated $608,851.25 for the project; all bids were below that estimate.

Other contracts and procurement motions approved included: - Acceptance of the low bid for chip-seal/rock screening work (company listed in the record as “Tornado”) for two stone/tonnage line items (1,500 tons at $33.40/ton and 900 tons at $46.35/ton). The board approved the low bid by voice vote. - Approval of Advanced Seal’s spray-foam insulation quote for the back half of the county barn, estimated at $24,007.32, and authorization to proceed. - Approval of a painting contract with Sanchez Painting to repaint the front three offices of the clerk’s area for $1,996.88. - Authorization of an amendment to the Kirkham & Michael engineering contract for additional services related to the county server barn project in the amount of $24,150.

The board approved routine business items including the Feb. 10, 2025 meeting minutes and payment of the current voucher/payment register.

On program and budget matters, the board approved the 2026 juvenile comprehensive plan and the 2026 adult comprehensive plan and associated budgets for the local community corrections program. The county community corrections director stated expected FY26 funding amounts from KDOC: $312,517.55 (juvenile) and $535,862.06 (adult). Commissioners voted to approve those submissions and sign required documents.

The board also entered and exited multiple executive sessions for non-elected personnel and for attorney-client privileged discussion (including a discussion of a solar project and the county handbook). The minutes record no formal board action resulting directly from those executive sessions.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Rural Opportunity Zone resolution (file 02242025): approved (voice vote). - Northeast Thirtieth St. overlay (Ethanol Plant Road): award to Heft and Sons LLC, $486,297.94: approved. - Chip-seal/rock screening low bid (company recorded as Tornado): approved (quantities/prices in minutes). - County barn spray-foam insulation (Advanced Seal): $24,007.32: approved. - Kirkham & Michael additional services (server barn): $24,150: approved. - Sanchez Painting (clerk’s office, front 3 rooms): $1,996.88: approved. - Juvenile comprehensive plan and budget (FY2026): approved. - Adult comprehensive plan and budget (FY2026): approved. - Minutes (02/10/2025) and payment register/vouchers: approved.

No votes failed during the meeting; several items required follow-up administrative steps (signatures, contract bonding paperwork and issuance of notices) before work can proceed.