County Awards Augusta Public Safety Building Concrete Project; Advances Equipment Purchases

The Butler County Commission awarded a concrete repair and replacement contract for the Augusta Public Safety Building to South Central Sealing & Paving in the amount of $118,831. The 4-0 vote followed a competitive bid process in which three firms responded. Facilities Management Director Travis Cornell said the parking lot on the south side of the building, used by EMS, is badly deteriorated, with the project replacing concrete and addressing drainage. Work is expected to begin roughly 20 days after approval.

Cornell said a lower apparent bid from AK Construction LLC had omitted parking lot striping and sidewalk work, which would have raised its cost to a comparable level. The replacement concrete will be 8 inches thick in areas supporting ambulances, 6 inches in general parking and 4 inches for sidewalks.

In separate 4-0 votes, the commission awarded a power broom bid to Barry Tractor for $96,273 after Public Works Director Curtis Mader said the low bid from G.W. Van Keppel did not meet specifications, and approved asphalt repairs on SW 30th Street following an August rollover crash involving a sand-hauling truck. Staff said the SW 30th Street repairs, near the El Dorado airport, would be pursued for reimbursement from the trucking company's insurer through KCAMP. The commission also approved letting Emergency Management staff seek bids to replace a fire extinguisher training pan more than 20 years old, aided by a $10,000 Tallgrass Pipeline grant.