Reno County approves millions for road/bridge work

June 25--The Reno County Commission Tuesday gave the go-ahead for several big-ticket projects:

--APAC-Kansas Inc., Shears Division, of Hutchinson, will mill and overlay portions of Old K-14 and Old K-61. The project will cover a total of 21 miles. The overall cost is $3,295,935.77.

--Raymond Road bridge, about one-fourth mile north of West 4th Avenue, will be replaced. L&M Contractors, Great Bend, submitted the low bid of $469,314.50. Construction will begin in December.

--Wray Roofing Inc., North Newton, submitted the lowest bid, $420,655.35, to replace a hail-damaged roof on the Reno County Public Works Department building, South Hutchinson.

The bid is only about $1,200 below the bid of Richardson Brothers, Hutchinson. Richardson has done previous roof work at the building, and Stan Richardson said air-conditioning condensation, not leaks is to blame for moisture inside. He also thought the project should be awarded to the Richardson Brothers.

The insurance company totaled the roof, and commissioners decided to replace it. State statutes and a prior attorney general opinion on county construction and repair projects costing $25,000 or above specify sealed bids must be requested and the project must be awarded to the lowest and best bid.

Commissioner Dan Deming said he would prefer to apply the county's preference policy for local bidding, but the state doesn't allow that option with big projects.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to contract Wray Roofing. The county's expense on the project will be a $5,000 deductible and $4,860 to complete guttering around the building.

In other business, Reno County Administrator Gary Meager said sales tax income for the county in June amounted to $416,265.28.

To date this year, the county has received $110,852 more in sales tax revenue than at the same point in 2013.

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