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Coffey County Road & Bridge approves bids, staffing and hears equipment-replacement briefing
Summary
The Commission approved multiple Road & Bridge actions — awarding a magnesium chloride bid, approving the 2026 dust-control program, authorizing solicitations for liquid asphalt and cold-mix patching, approving seasonal hires and a promotion — and heard a detailed equipment-replacement presentation on budget and replacement criteria.
Commissioners approved a series of Road & Bridge recommendations and heard an extended briefing on equipment-replacement needs and budgeting.
Procurement and programs: the board approved awarding the county’s magnesium chloride supply bid to Scottwood Industries at $1.28 per gallon and approved the 2026 dust-control program, which keeps the application price at $1.70 per foot and sets application and preparation timelines (applications in March; work beginning in May). The commission also authorized staff to solicit bids for liquid asphalt for the county’s 2026 chip-seal program and for cold-mix (coal mix) patching material; both solicitations were approved 5-0. "I'll entertain a motion that the bid submitted by Scottwood Industries Incorporated in the amount of $1.28 per gallon be approved as a best bid," the chair read during the discussion.
Personnel and pay: the board approved advertising and hiring up to 10 seasonal employees for summer road work and approved a promotion for Alan Suresick to specialized heavy equipment operator with a wage adjustment from $23.16 to $23.63, effective Feb. 16, 2026. Commissioners discussed typical hour limits for seasonal workers and replacement criteria for full-time equipment.
Equipment briefing: Road & Bridge staff presented a multi-year view of equipment budgets and utilization, showing a drop in replacement spending over a prior decade followed by more aggressive replacement efforts since 2023. Staff explained target replacement thresholds (blades at roughly 6,000–8,000 hours; dump trucks at ~250,000 miles) and described recent purchases (including some used/lease-return options) used to mitigate costs. "We started increasing our equipment budget a little bit... and started working on our long term replacement plan," the presenter said, summarizing the department’s approach.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the solicitations and draft purchase/specification materials; for larger replacements and construction phases, the county will review budget availability and prioritize dire needs during the annual budget process.
