Rawlins County Road & Bridge reports dozer repair quotes, farmer offered to haul rock and Klein bridge bid set for pre‑construction meeting

Road & Bridge Superintendent Mark Loop updated the Rawlins County Board of Commissioners on equipment repairs, a community offer to haul rock, and bridge construction plans during the June 2 meeting.

Loop presented two quotes to repair the D6 dozer’s worn equalizer bar and rear bushings: $24,446.00 if Foley provides labor and $19,345.26 if county crews perform the labor, a roughly $6,000 saving. He said if tracks are dry, track frames will need to be sent to Topeka to be rebuilt. Loop also reported diesel contamination was found in the oil of a new CAT maintainer, likely from a failed injector O‑ring, and that Foley would advise whether to send equipment to Colby or have Foley repair it in Atwood.

Loop said a local farmer offered to haul rock toward Achilles at no or low monetary cost in exchange for rock being placed on his road; Loop estimated the route at roughly 11–12 miles and said current crews are on blade work with no haul trucks available. The commissioners agreed preliminarily to consider the farmer hauling rock and requested more detail on mileage and costs.

Loop said L&M of Great Bend won the Klein bridge bid in August and will hold a pre‑construction meeting June 18, 2025. He also discussed options for consigning a 770CH, including working with Foley (which would likely require lowering the price) or Gavel Roads Auction (which could allow a $30,000–$35,000 reserve at a $100 listing fee). Loop reported three new blade operators are training and mowing will be delayed until after harvest.

No formal motions were recorded on the equipment repairs or consignment decisions at the meeting.