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Linn County signs KDOT agreement for 1095 project, directs RFP for 1850 Road
Summary
The Linn County commissioners approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for the north half of the high-risk rural roads project on 1095 and directed staff to issue an RFP for repairs to 1850 Road, citing limited budget capacity to do both this year.
Linn County commissioners voted June 16 to enter an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to participate in the high-risk rural roads program for the north half of 1095 Road and approved issuing a request for proposals for repairs on 1850 Road.
The action on 1095 formalizes the county’s participation in the KDOT program; Jesse (Public Works director) told commissioners the KDOT paperwork states the county will follow KDOT guidelines and that the grant funds must be used by October 2026. Commissioners then voted to put the 1850 Road repair out to bid this year and leave the 1095 northbound work for the grant timeline so the county does not exhaust its road funds in a single fiscal year.
Why it matters: The county has roughly $1.5 million in the special road and bridge fund and roughly $2.5 million in the road and bridge fund, and staff said funds are adequate to pursue one major project this budget year. Public Works recommended prioritizing 1850 Road because it is in worse condition; the KDOT grant covers a portion of the 1095 project but requires a county match. Commissioners discussed phasing work across this and next budget year to avoid drawing down reserves.
Details and debate: Jesse explained KDOT collects prequalified contractors who will bid the work and that the county is not required to do the construction immediately; the funds for 1095 remain available through October 2026. Commissioners pressed for clearer project-management visuals and asked public works to provide maps and a spreadsheet showing priorities, costs and proposed timing so elected officials and the public can see how projects and funds are sequenced. One commissioner said they preferred to prioritize repairing the more deteriorated 1850 Road now and defer the KDOT-backed 1095 north half to the grant schedule.
Formal votes: Commissioners moved and seconded the KDOT agreement and the RFP motion; both measures passed on voice votes. The RFP for 1850 Road was approved with the instruction to return with cost details and timelines.
Next steps: Public Works will prepare the RFP for 1850 Road, coordinate with the treasurer to confirm available cash and bring back the KDOT agreement paperwork already signed by staff, and will present clearer maps and cost spreadsheets at a future meeting for commissioner review.
