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Highway department outlines road work schedule; commissioners approve purchase of hot box and lowboy trailer
Summary
Cass County highway staff reported on chip-seal and bridge projects and the county approved purchasing an asphalt hot box and a lowboy trailer using budgeted equipment funds, with low quotes from Southeastern Equipment noted.
Cass County's highway department reported roadway progress and delays on state projects and the commission approved buying two pieces of equipment recommended by highway staff.
Highway department representative Jeff Smith told commissioners the county began chip seal work on selected roads and expects the three-layer chip seal to take about two weeks, with a fourth layer scheduled for 2026. He also reported on state projects: a segment of State Road 29 has reopened to traffic between Logansport and the State Road 218 north junction, while a bridge replacement on U.S. 35 near Galveston has been delayed and is now expected to be close to completion near Thanksgiving, extending current detours.
Smith asked the commission to approve two equipment purchases using budgeted funds: an asphalt hot box for patching and a paver-special lowboy trailer without a mid-deck knuckle. Staff said they solicited multiple quotes. For the hot box, three quotes ranged from $37,000 to $46,000, with the low quote from Southeastern Equipment at $37,138 recommended. For the lowboy trailer, staff received several quotes ranging from $72,000 to $119,000 and recommended the low quote from Southeastern Equipment at $72,500.
A commissioner moved to allow the highway department to purchase the recommended hot box and lowboy trailer; another commissioner seconded the motion and the commission approved it by voice vote. Commissioners asked whether the county would keep or dispose of the existing trailer; staff said the current trailer would likely be declared surplus and sold through the county's surplus process.
Smith also listed overtime and recent operational activities, including a multi-staff overtime response to downed trees and quotes solicited for the equipment purchases.
Speakers on this item included Jeff Smith (Highway Department) and commissioners who moved and seconded the equipment purchase motion but were not individually named on the record.
