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Geary County rejects lone snow-removal bid; public works to perform winter service
Summary
After receiving only one bid that staff called too expensive, the Geary County Commission voted to reject the snow-removal contract and assigned snow-clearing duties to county public-works crews; the board also approved a small pest-control contract extension and several routine contract actions.
The Geary County Commission voted to reject the lone bid for the county snow-removal contract and directed county public-works staff to handle snow clearing this winter.
"We only received one bid on that," Jeremy Myers, public works administrator, told the commission and recommended rejecting it because "the price is just too high" for the county to accept. After discussion of county capacity and a plan to track in-house costs next season, a commissioner moved to decline the bid and have public works take the work; another commissioner seconded and the board voted in favor.
Myers told the board the last contract year covered 2023–24 and that courthouse-only events historically cost about $200 per event; he and other commissioners noted large year-to-year variation in snowfall and said the county will track actual costs in 2026 to compare contracting vs. in-house performance. "We can make it work," Myers said, while acknowledging that doing the work with county crews would draw staff from road and bridge operations at times.
The board handled several other facilities and maintenance actions at the same meeting. Commissioners approved a one-year renewal of a pest-control contract with Ram for 2026, with a modest increase tied to a termite-bait installation; Jeremy Myers said the total cost would be $9,705. The meeting minutes also record approval for continuing a one-year contract with the Arnold Group for compensation and job-description services at the same budgeted rate for 2026.
Votes at a glance - Motion to decline lone snow-removal bid and assign snow removal to public works: moved by a commissioner, seconded, approved (recorded as 'aye'). - Pest-control contract extension (Ram) for 2026: moved, seconded, approved (total $9,705). - Arnold Group contract renewal (payroll/compensation study services): request for permission to sign contract approved in consent sequence.
Why it matters Snow removal is a recurring, high-cost operational service that affects county roads, public safety and budgets. The board’s decision to use county crews shifts near-term operating responsibility to staff and creates a directive to track comparative costs across future seasons so the county can evaluate whether contracting out is economical.
What happens next Public works will carry out snow removal this season while staff collect cost data through 2026 so the board can reassess whether to pursue a multiyear contract in future procurement rounds.
