Rawlins County approves $277,749 purchase of CAT 950GC loader with five-year financing

The Rawlins County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 1 to buy a new CAT 950GC loader for $277,749.11, approving five annual payments of $61,196.86 at a fixed 4.49% interest rate and authorizing Road & Bridge Superintendent Wayne Lanning to sign the purchase paperwork.

The decision followed a discussion with Douglas Minson of CAT/Foley about whether to buy a new machine or a used one. Minson told the commissioners that either financing option would carry a fixed interest rate with five annual payments and that there would be no penalty for early payoff. Commissioner Lincoln Pochop moved the purchase; Commissioner Alan A. Solko seconded, and the motion carried.

Why it matters: county road crews are preparing for winter work and the purchase is intended to support blading and rock-hauling operations. The board directed that the old loader be sold on an online auction site and agreed the expense would be paid from the Special Machinery Fund.

Road and Bridge updates included Lanning reporting crews are completing blading and will begin hauling rock. Commissioners and Lanning discussed hiring part-time drivers for the winter at a higher hourly rate; Commissioners suggested placing an ad in the county paper. Lanning noted that Clint Wahrman can drive part-time.

The board also reviewed localized road problems, including trouble spots by Brian Clark’s property and bad sections on Cemetery Road, and agreed to remove and replace specific sections rather than repaving entire stretches, with follow-up involving Richard Ryan.

Personnel matters and benefits: department heads and the commissioners discussed a drafted Employee Handbook. County Attorney Christopher Rohr (participating by phone) recommended eliminating the Compensation Time-off Policy and instead paying overtime rather than tracking comp time. The board approved several routine items during the meeting, including November vouchers and minutes, and a proposed health insurance option.

Votes at a glance - Purchase of CAT 950GC loader for $277,749.11 (five annual payments at $61,196.86, 4.49% fixed); motion by Commissioner Lincoln Pochop, seconded by Commissioner Alan A. Solko. Outcome: approved. - Approval of November 2025 vouchers; motion by Commissioner Pochop, seconded by Commissioner Mosley. Outcome: approved. - Approval of minutes (Nov. 14 and 20, 2025); motion by Commissioner Mosley, seconded by Commissioner Pochop. Outcome: approved. - Approval of Additions and Abatements from the Appraiser’s Office; motion by Commissioner Pochop, seconded by Commissioner Solko. Outcome: approved. - Approval of Additions from the County Clerk’s Office; motion by Commissioner Pochop, seconded by Commissioner Mosley. Outcome: approved. - Approval of Freedom Claims Option Number 2 (14%) for health insurance; motion by Commissioner Pochop, seconded by Commissioner Mosley. Outcome: approved. - Approval of Rawlins County Shuttle Matching Funds Letter for KDOT grant; motion by Commissioner Mosley, seconded by Commissioner Pochop. Outcome: approved. - Approval and signing of Communications Agreement with the City of Atwood, Standard Operating Procedure for communication services, and MOU for jail fees; motion by Commissioner Pochop, seconded by Commissioner Mosley. Outcome: approved.

Administrative notes: Aflac open enrollment was announced for Dec. 11, 2025 in the commissioners room; Freedom Claims health insurance open enrollment is Dec. 16, 2025. The next regular meeting was set for Dec. 15, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.m.

Representative transcript language includes the motion recorded by Commissioner Pochop to buy the loader for $277,749.11 with five payments at a 4.49% fixed interest rate and County Attorney Rohr’s suggestion to “get rid of the Compensation Time-off Policy and pay employees overtime.”