Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves loader purchase under cooperative pricing, authorizes trade-ins and advertises mechanic vacancy
Summary
The commission waived competitive bidding to use Sourcewell cooperative pricing to buy a John Deere wheel loader, authorized trade-in disposal of two older Caterpillar loaders and approved advertising to fill a vacant Road & Bridge mechanic position.
The Coffey County Commission authorized the purchase of a new wheel loader under a cooperative purchasing agreement, approved trade-ins of two aging loaders, and directed Road & Bridge to advertise for a vacant mechanic position.
Procurement and disposal details - Purchase authorization: The commission approved waiving the county's competitive-bid requirement to buy a 2024 John Deere 5204P wheel loader from Murphy Tractor & Equipment (Topeka) under Sourcewell cooperative municipal pricing. The quoted price was $227,750 with a trade allowance of $44,000, producing a net purchase amount of $183,750. The motion authorized the Road & Bridge supervisor to sign related documents. - Trade-ins/disposals: The board found that a 1991 Caterpillar 966F and a 1981 Caterpillar 950B were no longer required for county purposes and approved disposal by trade to Murphy Tractor for $27,000 and $17,000 respectively. The commission directed staff to publish notice of the board's intention to dispose on March 20 and March 27, 2025, in the official county newspaper.
Personnel - Hiring authorization: The Road & Bridge supervisor asked to advertise for a mechanic to fill a current vacancy; the commission approved advertising and the hiring request.
Why it matters: The equipment purchase replaces older machines, consolidates fleet needs and uses cooperative pricing to accelerate procurement; disposal notices and trade allowances were recorded. Hiring a mechanic addresses shop capacity and equipment maintenance capacity for the year's heavier work program.
What the record shows: Commissioners discussed machine ages and hour-meter irregularities on older equipment but approved the purchase and trade-ins by voice votes. The Road & Bridge supervisor confirmed trade values and that some hour-meter records on older loaders were incomplete.
