Coffey County commissioners approve equipment purchases, 3% pay increase and purchase of land for radio tower

The Coffey County Board of Commissioners voted on a package of administrative and procurement items during a regular meeting, approving equipment purchases, a 3% cost-of-living increase for 2025 and the acquisition of one acre for a radio communications tower.

The board voted to approve the county minutes from the Jan. 27, 2025, meeting; to sign a single tax abatement in the amount of $662.52; to authorize payment from 2024 year-end transfer funds for district court office equipment; to accept a trailer bid of $17,600; to solicit formal bids for a road sweeper; and to purchase a Craftco crack-filler machine for $68,460.40 under a Sourcewell cooperative procurement. The board also approved a one-acre land purchase at 572 Emmer Road in Gridley for $3,000 to host a radio communications tower and adopted the 2025 salary chart reflecting a 3% cost-of-living increase.

Why it matters: these votes allocate county funds and update procurement and staffing baselines. The land purchase is part of an emergency communications project; equipment purchases affect Road & Bridge operations and routine county services.

Key votes at a glance

- Minutes (Jan. 27, 2025): approved (voice vote). - Tax abatement for property bought from City of Burlington (buyer David Strauder): authorize chairman to sign; amount $662.52; motion moved by McCurry, seconded by Barker; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Payment for district court office equipment (from 2024 year-end transfers/equipment reserve fund): motion moved by Thompson, seconded by McCurry; outcome: approved (voice vote). The transcript references an approximate line-item identifier and an $11,000 figure during discussion but did not specify a final separate appropriation amount beyond authorizing the payment from the equipment reserve fund. - Acceptance of Hoyt's Trailer Center low bid for a trailer: purchase price $17,600; motion moved by McCurry, seconded by Barker/Peterson (transcript records both seconds from different points); outcome: approved (voice vote). - Solicitation for formal bids for one road sweeper (with possible trade-in): motion approved (voice vote). - Waive competitive bidding and approve Sourcewell/municipal pricing purchase of one Craftco Super Shot 125 crack-filler machine (Craftco, Wichita): quote BBBQ70177, $68,460.40; motion moved by (transcript) Humana/Hugunin and seconded by McCurry; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Award of magnesium chloride supply bid to Scottwood Industries, $1.26 per gallon (bid date 01/29/2025): motion moved by Hugunen/Huguenen and seconded by Peterson; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Land purchase agreement between Buyer Management Group, LLP and Coffey County for one acre at 572 Emmer Road, Gridley, Kansas: purchase price $3,000; funds from the capital improvement reserve fund; motion moved by McCurry, seconded by Peterson; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve 2025 salary chart reflecting a 3% cost-of-living increase: motion moved by Hagan, seconded by McCurry; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Personnel action: CTQ payroll notice for Tremaine Boyle, jail corrections 2, classification 30-2, wage $20.11, effective 01/27/25: motion approved (voice vote). - Motion to enter a 15-minute executive session for non-elected personnel (medical) under KSA 75-4319: motion approved; board entered executive session (recorded times in transcript).

Discussion and context

The board heard brief staff presentations and questions for multiple items; most were approved by voice vote after limited discussion. County staff explained that the purchase of district court office equipment used funds carried over in the general fund and would be moved to department-specific equipment line items. Road and Bridge staff presented procurement rationales for equipment purchases including the use of cooperative Sourcewell pricing and explained the expected freight charge included in the Craftco quote ($2,000 flat freight was described as included in the Sourcewell price).

On the land purchase for the radio tower, Emergency Management Director Amber Presley said the property includes an existing concrete pad and that the county will remove the old tower and build a new pad and 75-by-75 fenced equipment pad within the purchased acre. Presley said the demolition and construction were budgeted and the county had initially budgeted $15,000 for that work; she expected the actual cost to be lower because vendors will already be on site for related tower work.

Several motions recorded only voice tallies. Where the transcript recorded who moved and who seconded, those names are listed above; in other cases the record shows standard voice approval ("All in favor, say aye"). The transcript did not provide roll-call vote counts or recorded no votes nor recorded abstentions for these items.

Ending

Staff said follow-up steps for the purchases include signing contracts and proceeding with deliveries and site work. For the radio tower acquisition, the purchase closing deadline is scheduled on or before March 28 (transcript reference: "March '20 eighth" — recorded in transcript as March 28), and staff will proceed to the title office and set up required lease agreements for other tower sites. County staff and the commissioners said they would provide further updates at upcoming meetings.