County approves road design task order and several vendor contracts, including $14,800 for pit lighting

The Board of Commissioners approved multiple procurement and contract items at the meeting: a task order with AKS Engineering to produce two-to-three conceptual layouts for South K River Lane improvements (not to exceed $24,715); a contract with Kyle Electric to install lighting under the Beaver Hill pit roof at a price not to exceed $14,800; and annual software agreements for tax-assessment and mapping systems.

Commissioners asked specifically whether at least one of the AKS conceptual designs would leave an on-site historic walnut tree intact; staff confirmed that at least one concept would preserve the tree and that engineers would look closely at that option. The AKS task order is intended to produce schematic alternatives staff will use to consult with the affected property owners and inform right-of-way discussions.

The board also approved a sole-source contract with Helion Software (assessment and tax collection support) for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 and renewed the Octave mapping maintenance agreement (meeting text cited a roughly $11,899.92 renewal amount). All contract and maintenance items were approved by motion and voice vote.