The Coffey County Road & Bridge superintendent briefed commissioners on several equipment and policy actions on Jan. 7; the board approved the procurements and a personnel allowance change.

Key approvals: The board waived the county’s competitive-bidding requirement for the purchase of one 2025 Freightliner 114SD from Henderson Products Inc. under cooperative municipal pricing (Sourcewell), quote #185277, for $201,390 and authorized the Road & Bridge superintendent to sign purchase documents. Commissioners also approved soliciting sealed bids for 30% magnesium chloride or a comparable chloride product for the 2025 dust-control program and approved soliciting formal bids for a bumper-pull tilt-deck trailer for the asphalt crew, to be funded from the equipment reserve fund.

Employee safety allowance: Road & Bridge asked the board to preserve the annual $150 safety-allowance for crew members but add flexibility so employees may use it for bibs and coats as an alternative to boots and apparel. Commissioners agreed to keep the $150 amount and extend eligible uses to include bibs and coats and other safety apparel.

Why it matters: The truck purchase and equipment solicitations support winter and seasonal road operations. Expanding eligible safety-allowance purchases responds to cold-weather needs for employees who must work outside in severe conditions.

Implementation notes: Road & Bridge staff will publish solicitations, proceed with the truck order under cooperative pricing, and report back with bid results and equipment delivery timelines.