Commissioners approve facility and road purchases, direct staff to seek KDOT study of high‑school intersection

Geary County public works staff and the board approved a series of facilities and road-related purchases during the May 12 meeting and discussed options for a potentially hazardous intersection.

Jeremy Myers, public works administrator, reviewed contract renewals and capital maintenance needs. The board approved annual preventive-maintenance contracts with the county's HVAC vendor for June 1, 2025–May 31, 2026; Myers said one campus (Cloud County Community College Building D) carried an unexpected increase of $1,068 because the building had not been previously accounted for on that contract. Commissioners agreed the preventative maintenance is important to extend equipment life.

The board also approved replacing one of two HVAC units serving the sheriff's administrative area because the original unit had failed. Myers said the cost is $9,883 and that the expense will be paid from the facility fund. The motion to approve replacement carried unanimously.

Public works presented a pest-control proposal after staff reported termite evidence in the HR office. Ram Pest Control proposed a spot treatment and building bait stations for $2,640 with a $385 annual maintenance fee; the board approved the proposal and directed funding from facilities.

For road work, Myers recommended replacing two corrugated metal culverts on Skidi Road with reinforced concrete pipe for longer service life. Old Castle in Topeka submitted a low proposal of $7,035; a second bid from McPherson Concrete was $9,254.12. Because combining the two purchases reduces shipping, Myers asked the board to waive the purchasing policy to allow a single combined purchase; commissioners approved purchase through Old Castle with funds charged to the Road & Bridge culvert line.

Myers briefed the board on an intersection at Munson Road/Rucker Road and K‑18 where the sheriff's office reported six accidents between 2023 and 2025 and parents and school-board members had expressed safety concerns. Myers said he would file an application for a Traffic Engineering Assistance Program (TEAP) study through KDOT; commissioners supported pursuing a KDOT review and asked staff to bring the matter to the next TAC meeting. No formal vote was taken to obligate funds for engineering at this time.

Myers also updated commissioners on flood-damage mitigation at the Kansas Falls roadside location that remains closed after a June flood last year. He said staff had met with FEMA and that FEMA mitigation might be available; Myers cautioned the board he would confirm details but said he believed mitigation could cover up to $200,000 for work at that site. Myers warned that environmental permitting and the span of the location could push a low-water crossing into a structure that would then fall under the county's bridge inspection inventory.

Facilities staff had requested an exterior painting project for the Emergency Management building. Riley Construction was the lowest bidder at $16,342, and the project was previously approved in the CIP for $15,000; the board approved a CIP amendment of $1,342 to cover the difference and awarded the work to the low bidder.

Also on fleet and equipment, Rhonda from Community Corrections asked to trade two vehicles: the department proposed trading a Fusion for a Chevy Trailblazer from Jim Clark and trading a 2018 Chevy Malibu to Home Automotive (for another Malibu). The board approved the Home Automotive recommendation first (unanimous approval). The Trailblazer purchase from Jim Clark was approved in a separate motion and carried with one abstention (Commissioner Trish). Myers said vehicle purchases are timed late in the fiscal year to ensure available funds.

Myers closed with routine public-works updates: chip-seal hauling progress, culvert and sign installations, right-of-way mowing, staffing levels (29 current employees with four vacancies) and ongoing recruitment efforts.

The board approved the listed contracts and purchases during the meeting; Myers will return with cost details or contract amendments as needed for items that remain pending.