Hamilton County commissioners refer resurfacing bids, approve drone transfers, adopt two ordinances and clear multiple contracts and payments

The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 8 received competitive bids for a county resurfacing project, approved two resolutions to transfer surplus drones to local law enforcement, adopted two ordinances on first reading and voted to approve multiple contracts and payments across county departments.

The board opened sealed bids for Resurface Project 2053 (various roads in Jackson, Kansas, and White River, Kansas). Bidders and base bids recorded in the meeting were: Baumgartner — $1,967,154.85; Calumet — not specified in the record for the base amount; DC Construction — $1,866,266.92; E & B — $1,878,649.78; Howard Companies — $1,912,749.36; Midwest Paving — $1,761,769.69; Ruth Riley — $1,663,000. The board voted to refer the bid packets to the Highway Department for review and recommendation at the next meeting.

In emergency-management business, staff announced a $9,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant (net $8,875 after a $125 check-processing fee) to buy seven voltage detectors and, tentatively, 30 nationwide rapid-response radios to support field safety and volunteer communications. Separately, the commissioners approved two resolutions (09082025-1 and 09082025-2) authorizing the transfer of three retired DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise drones: one to Ascension Saint Vincent’s Police Department and two to Richmond Police Department.

The board accepted two recently constructed subdivision bridges — Bridge No. 323 (Mercio Parkway over East Fork of Slide Run) and Bridge No. 324 (Timbers Parkway over East Fork of Slide Run) — into county ownership and maintenance after staff reported that construction and…