Seward County approves $497,233 dozer purchase and several equipment, software and tech renewals

At its regular meeting the Seward County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple procurement items ranging from heavy equipment to software and building kiosks.

The largest single action was approval of a D6 dozer purchase from Foley Equipment for $497,233. Commissioners voted to waive the purchasing policy, authorize a special check for payment and approve the purchase; the motion recorded a 5–0 vote. County staff and Foley Equipment representatives explained the machine is a high-track D6 that matches operational needs at the county gravel plant and that used-machine searches had not identified a suitable alternative. Larry Cummings of Foley Equipment told commissioners market supply was tight and that Caterpillar high-track models are limited, saying his firm “searched pretty hard” to locate the unit on hold for Seward County.

Road and Bridge staff also presented and the commission approved the purchase of a 2025 motor grader from Foley Cat for $265,980 to be paid from the equipment fund; that motion passed 5–0. Mark Johnson, Road and Bridge director, said the purchase was part of the 2025 CIP; he told commissioners rebuilding the existing 2012 grader was not the most cost-effective option.

Landfill staff requested and the commission approved adding a capital purchase to the consent agenda and purchasing a 24-foot tilt-bed trailer from Hills Truck and Equipment for $8,350 to make the skid loader transportable without a Class A CDL. Brock Tyner, landfill staff, said the trailer purchase would be paid from the mobile equipment fund and that the trailer was needed to haul a 72-inch Hustler mower used at the Liberal location. Commissioners approved the trailer purchase by show of hands.

The board approved several other technology and facility items: a three-year renewal of the ClearCompany workforce management platform for $33,307 (county technology budget), a court-recorder upgrade (FTR systems from Voice Products) for $30,280 with a motion to pay a 50% down payment by special check ($15,140), and a 32-inch pedestal touchscreen kiosk for a building directory from TB Liquidators for $2,385 charged to technology surplus. Each of those measures passed on unanimous voice or hand votes.

The board also approved a fee waiver the county administrator had already authorized for Crossroads Center Incorporated to use the Rodeo Arena for an event; the commission ratified that administrative waiver. In each equipment or technology vote staff identified the paying fund (equipment, mobile equipment or county technology) and said available balances would cover the purchases.

Commissioners asked questions about procurement process limits and single-source justifications. Staff repeatedly noted the need to waive bidding requirements in specific cases because suitable alternatives were not available locally or the vendor had equipment on hold. The motions approved at the meeting require county staff to complete purchase paperwork, request special checks where required, and coordinate deliveries and warranties.