Public Works committee recommends council approve three consultant agreements and one equipment purchase

The Overland Park Public Works Committee recommended that the City Council approve several procurement actions and a minutes approval after staff presentations and committee discussion. All motions listed below were approved by the committee by recorded voice votes (all in favor). The committee also approved the August 28, 2024, Public Works Committee minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of August 28, 2024 Public Works Committee minutes. Motion made by Mr. Matrician; outcome: approved (6–0). The committee moved the minutes without further amendment.

- HNTB Corporation — engineering services for project TH-3026 (175th/179th to Switzer). Staff presentation: Jessica Tran described the project scope as reconstruction of 175th from 179th to Switzer with a roundabout at 175th and 179th, interim two-lane median-divided roadway in portions, bike lanes, sidewalk on the north side and a shared-use trail on the south side, tree plantings and streetlights. Staff said the request was issued to 11 firms with four responses and that a selection committee recommended HNTB. Recommended fee: not to exceed $1,549,910. Motion: committee moved to recommend City Council approval of the agreement with HNTB Corporation for engineering services for project TH-3026, fee not to exceed $1,549,910; outcome: approved (6–0).

- Terracon Consultants — material testing services for the Quivira/Kubera Road project (Quivira from 179th to 187th). Staff presentation: Jessica Tran said the request for qualifications went to nine firms and staff received one response; Terracon was selected. Staff presented the anticipated schedule for a larger roadway project and identified Terracon as the recommended qualified testing firm. Recommended fee: not to exceed $182,962 (as presented). Motion: committee moved to recommend City Council approval of the agreement for material testing services with Terracon for the Quivira/Kubera Road project; outcome: approved (6–0).

- Kaw Valley Engineering, Inc. — 2025 on-demand material testing services (general projects). Staff presentation: Eric (Public Works) explained the on-demand testing contracts and said selection considered certified testing capacity and ability to provide independent testing. Recommended fee: not to exceed $189,455. Motion: committee moved to recommend City Council approval of selection of Kaw Valley Engineering, Inc. for 2025 on-demand material testing services for general projects for a fee not to exceed $189,455; outcome: approved (6–0).

- Terracon Consultants, Inc. — 2025 on-demand material testing services (preservation projects). Staff recommended awarding this separate contract for preservation projects to Terracon in an amount not to exceed $128,480. Motion: committee moved to recommend City Council approval of selection of Terracon Consultants, Inc. for preservation-project material testing, fee not to exceed $128,480; outcome: approved (6–0).

- Purchase of 2025 front-end wheel loader (waive formal bid). Staff requested waiver of formal bidding to immediately procure a replacement front-end wheel loader used primarily to load salt for plow trucks; staff said a like model is in stock from Murphy Tractor and Equipment Company and priced at $227,870. Motion: committee moved to recommend City Council authorize the waiver of the bid process and purchase of a 2025 front-end wheel loader from Murphy Tractor & Equipment for an amount not to exceed $227,870; outcome: approved (6–0).

Committee comments and staff responses: Committee members asked about traffic and detours during the HNTB project, contractor deployment timing, the public map and AVL reliability and how residents can verify whether a specific street was visited. Staff said contractors handle roughly 13% of routes and are used for cleanup phases; AVL “bread crumbs” show vehicle traces but several units failed during the event and the map is not designed for extended multi-day operations. Staff said they will further assess contractor use, AVL redundancy, and communications as part of their follow-up work.

Each recommended agreement and the loader purchase will now be forwarded to the City Council for final approval.