Coffey County commissioners approve new phone system, authorize concrete and roof bids, and sign radio-tower lease

Coffey County commissioners on Monday approved a package of procurement, facilities and grant actions, including selection of a five-year phone system contract with NT Networks, authorization to solicit bids to remove and replace deteriorated concrete at the courthouse and jail entry, and a lease with the City of Lebo for a radio communications tower site.

The meeting opened with routine approvals — minutes, grant-distribution letters to cities for infrastructure and parks-and-rec funds, and a vehicle tax abatement — then moved into several substantive items that drew longer discussion.

Phone system: commissioners voted to accept NT Networks’ proposal for a countywide phone system over five years. The board discussed four finalists and compared total cost after five years and upfront fees. NT Networks’ proposal carried an upfront phone purchase cost of $46,580 and a total five‑year cost the board recorded as $219,761 with a monthly charge of $2,848.50. Commissioner Peterson moved to accept the NT Networks bid; the motion was seconded and carried after an aye vote.

Jail construction and courthouse concrete: River City Construction representatives gave a weekly update on jail construction progress, saying interior finishes and ceiling work are under way and elevators are installed. During that discussion commissioners debated two areas of existing concrete around the courthouse and jail that are cracked or hold water: the west courtyard/horseshoe area and the section south of the jail’s sally port. Commissioners and contractor representatives differed over whether to include replacement of those slabs in the ongoing jail renovation contract (phase 1/phase 2 budgeting and contingency) or to competitively bid the work separately.

After discussion about timing — commissioners and River City staff noted exterior site work and curb-and-gutter grading scheduled around March 1 and the efficiency of doing concrete work while other contractors are mobilized — the board directed staff to solicit competitive bids to remove and replace concrete in the two described areas. The county clerk was instructed to publish the solicitation; funds were authorized to come from the general fund capital outlay line item rather than the jail construction contingency.

Radio tower lease: the board approved a land-lease agreement with the City of Lebo for a 75-by-75-foot tract at 556 Old Highway 50, Lebo, Kansas, for $100 per year to host one of three planned radio towers. Commissioners asked about lease length and revenue-sharing for any future commercial uses on the tower. County counsel advised the lease term is 40 years; commissioners noted that future carrier revenue from any third‑party leases would be payable to the county under the agreement procedures outlined, and the lease proceeds are intended to be offset by improved radio coverage for first responders.

CDBG amendment for SSM road: Garrett Nordstrom of Government Assistance Services reported that the Kansas Commerce contract amendment for the Small Cities CDBG (grant award 23‑IND‑001) had returned for signature after the county earlier requested a budget amendment to extend the road and maximize grant funds. The board authorized the chairman to sign the first amendment to the agreement and the administrative-services contract with Government Assistance Services.

Commercial roof: commissioners authorized staff to solicit bids from commercial roofing contractors to replace the roof at 405–407 (the downtown property previously referenced in staff materials). The board discussed the need for full replacement rather than repeated patching and the potential that bidders will need to inspect existing structure and substructure conditions before final pricing.

Other motions: commissioners approved a one‑year Microsoft Office Government Community Cloud subscription using a waiver of competitive bidding and a $42,400 purchase from Central Computer Distribution; approved CP‑2 payroll notices for several new hires; and approved routine Road & Bridge motions including the 2025 dust control program, solicitations for coal mix patching and liquid asphalt for the chip-seal program, hiring up to 10 temporary seasonal employees, and setting a public hearing on a minimum‑maintenance roads resolution for Feb. 24, 2025.

Hospital board appointment: the board appointed William Conroy to a three‑year term on the local hospital board (term recorded as beginning 12/31/2024 through 12/31/2027) following public introductions from both applicants. Commissioners thanked the other applicant, Marlene Cook, for applying.

Why it matters: the phone system contract, the courthouse‑area concrete decision and the roof solicitation all affect county operating costs and capital plans. The radio-tower lease and the CDBG amendment are tied to emergency communications coverage and local economic development respectively. Several of the procurement decisions were framed by timing: staff and contractors emphasized that exterior work and mobilization schedules in March make early decisions more efficient.

What’s next: staff will publish the solicitations described above, route signed CDBG and land‑lease documents to the appropriate state and city offices, and execute the NT Networks contract under the terms approved by the board. The board set a public hearing for Feb. 24 on minimum‑maintenance roads. River City Construction will continue weekly construction updates.

Votes at a glance (formal motions recorded during the meeting): the board recorded and voted on multiple routine and substantive motions; the following list summarizes each formal item and the recorded outcome.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes of Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 as written — motion carried. - Authorize chairman to sign letters to cities regarding first-half distribution of 2025 infrastructure grant funds — motion carried. - Authorize chairman to sign letters to cities regarding first-half distribution of 2025 park and recreation grant funds — motion carried. - Authorize and direct chairman to sign one tax abatement in the amount of $1,525.84 (vehicle classification correction) — motion carried. - Rescind paragraph regarding prior payroll notice for Tremaine Boyle and authorize corrected CP‑2 payroll notice for Tremaine Boyle (new hire, jail corrections 1, wage $20.11 effective 01/27/25) — motion carried. - Authorize CP‑2 payroll notice for Brent Turner (new hire, recycling light equipment operator, classification 30‑1, wage $19.73 effective 02/11/25) — motion carried. - Authorize chairman to sign land-lease agreement with City of Lebo for 75x75-foot tract at 556 Old Highway 50 for use as a radio tower site at $100/year, funds from emergency management radio maintenance fund — motion carried. - Waive purchasing policy and approve one‑year Microsoft Office Government Community Cloud subscription from Central Computer Distribution for $42,400, funds from 2025 technology training and equipment line item — motion carried. - Select NT Networks as the phone-system provider (upfront cost $46,580; five‑year total cost recorded as $219,761) and authorize contract per RFP results; funding noted to come from technology reserve for upfront cost — motion carried. - Authorize chairman to sign first amendment to Small Cities CDBG agreement (grant award 23‑IND‑001) and contract for administrative services with Government Assistance Services — motion carried. - Approve county housing participation (shared cost) for drainage survey and related work near Rex Air; county to pay one‑half of the drainage survey cost up to $10,000 — motion carried (clarified during discussion). - Road & Bridge motions: approve 2025 Dust Control Program and direct county clerk to publish notice; solicit bids for coal-mix patching material for 2025; solicit bids for liquid asphalt for 2025 chip-seal program (funds from Road & Bridge fund); advertise to hire up to 10 temporary seasonal employees — all motions carried. - Set public hearing to address Resolution 2025‑944 (declaring certain roads in northeast Coffey County minimum‑maintenance roads under KSA 68‑5102) at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 — motion carried. - Authorize solicitation of bids to remove and replace concrete at west courthouse courtyard/horseshoe and at the southeast jail sally‑port approach (excluding the existing basement stairwell); funds to come from general fund capital outlay — motion carried. - Authorize solicitation of bids for replacement of the commercial roof at 405–407 (property previously discussed in staff materials); funds to come from economic development capital reserve — motion carried. - Appoint William Conroy to the hospital board to fill a three‑year term (12/31/2024–12/31/2027) — motion carried.

Note: where the transcript recorded only chair calls for “aye” the article records outcome as carried; the transcript did not provide roll-call vote tallies for each motion.

Ending: commissioners said weekly updates on jail construction from River City Construction will continue and that staff will publish solicitations and circulate signed agreements as required. The board set the next meeting dates and scheduling for interviews related to an economic‑development director candidate.