Commission approves culvert purchase for Ottawa Road and opens 2025–26 asphalt patching bids

The Atchison County Commission approved a purchase order Sept. 9 for metal culverts for Ottawa Road Phase 3 and opened bids for the county's 2025–26 asphalt patching program.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Joe Snyder presented the purchase order for work on Phase 3 of Ottawa Road, stating the culverts would be installed by county crews to replace failing culverts before the next road project. In his presentation he cited a figure of $16,918.35 for the culverts. When the clerk moved the purchase-order motion later in the meeting the recorded amount on the motion was rendered as $16,009.18; the record does not contain an explicit clarification from staff on which figure is the final invoice amount. The motion to approve the purchase order passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Snyder also presented the county's bid openings for the 2025–26 asphalt patching program for approximately 740 tons of asphalt. Bidders proposed milling two inches of asphalt, removing millings, and replacing with fresh asphalt; in more deteriorated spots contractors would place additional material. The commission publicly opened three bids: Approved Paving ($252,340), Best Asphalt ($399,793.79), and a third bid listed in the packet as Little Joe's (recorded in the meeting as $207,005.35). County staff said their internal estimate had been roughly $333,000–$343,000. The board did not award the program at the meeting and asked staff to follow up with the low and other bidders and return with a recommendation.

No protests were recorded during the opening, and commissioners asked staff for the specification details and daily tracking procedures for asphalt usage before making a contract award.