Shawnee County commissioners approve Van Deest weed supply bid, multiple contracts and $4.66M in vouchers

Shawnee County commissioners on March 19 approved a series of routine procurement and budget items including a responsive bid for weed-management chemicals, voucher payments totaling $4,660,507.25 and several contracts for IT, public-works and detention services.

John Landon, director of the county weed department, asked commissioners to award the bid for herbicide and dye products to Van Deest Supply Company, noting the county has worked with Van Deest since 2008. "This morning, I'm here requesting approval to award the bid to Van Deest," Landon said. The board approved the award by a 3-0 vote.

The county clerk presented vouchers totaling $4,660,507.25 with notable payments listed in the packet: $356,422 to Mammoth Sports Construction as the final payment for the Bettis baseball turf replacement project (paid from the equipment fund and Parks for All Foundation); $456,393.42 to Bettis Asphalt and Construction (progress payment on Northwest 46th Fielding Road, paid from infrastructure funds); and $404,071.29 to King Construction Company (progress payment on Southwest Auburn Road from 29th to K4 Highway, paid with infrastructure funds). Commissioners approved the voucher report 3-0.

Information Technology requested approval of contract C2026112 to purchase eight developer-grade laptops with four years of support from PC Nation for $26,016; Mark Price said these machines replace units purchased in 2019 and include a not-to-exceed provision in case quotes change. The commission approved the contract 3-0.

Public Works Director Kurt Neihouse presented contract C2026113, the low bid from WCI Incorporated to remove a bridge and replace it with a culvert on NE Calhoun Bluff Road for $280,516.52, to be paid from the county bridges portion of the half-cent 2017–2031 retailers sales tax program. Neihouse noted the county will have one fewer bridge, to 260 bridges after the change; commissioners approved the contract 3-0.

The Department of Corrections requested authorization to select the lowest responsive bidders for inmate supplies for fiscal year 2026 and presented a three-year renewal (C2026114) with PowerDMS for policy-management software at first-year cost $20,811.66 (year two $22,263.28; year three $23,488.81). Brian Cole said the software streamlines policy and training tracking across agencies; the selections and contract were approved 3-0.

All motions on these consent and contract items passed by unanimous 3-0 votes.