Crawford County Commission shakes up

The Crawford County Commission met Monday following swearing-in of new county employees and officials, including Tom Moody, who replaced Linda Grilz as commissioner for the Second District.

He first held that seat after he was appointed in April 1996 by then-Gov. Bill Graves and held it for more than 12 years. Moody announced in the spring of 2008 that he would not seek reelection to what would have been his fourth term in the November 2008 election, but re-won the seat in the August 2012 Democrat primary, defeating incumbent Grilz and challenger Tim Gintner.

Following the customary rotation, Moody will  also serve as commission chairman for the year.

After Moody was welcomed back, commissioners got down to business and approved rock bids for the Crawford County Road and Bridge Department. The bids, from two vendors and five quarries, came in several  weeks ago and were evaluated by Dennis Meier of Triad Environmental Services.

Bids were considered for each quadrant of the county. Midwest Minerals, Farlington Quarry No. 4, won all the bids for Quadrant 1 in the northwest section of the county for the following amounts: AB-3, $4.60 per ton; roadstone, $4.60 per ton; screened roadstone, $6.75 per ton; roadbase rock,  $5 per ton; lateral rock, $7.50 per ton; and chips, $9.50 per ton.
Mulberry Limestone, Englevale Quarry, was awarded all the bids for Quadrant 2 in the northeast section for the following amounts: AB-3, $5.20 per ton; roadstone, $5.20 per ton; screened roadstone, $7.60 per ton; roadbase rock, $5.50 per ton; lateral rock, $7.50 per ton; and chips, $10 per ton.

Both vendors were awarded bids for Quadrant 3 in the southeast section for the following amounts: Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, AB-3, $3.90 per ton; Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, roadstone, $3.90 per ton; Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, screened roadstone, $5.98 per ton; Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg quarry, roadbase rock, $4.25 per ton; Midwest Minerals, Pittsburg Quarry No. 5, lateral rock, $6.75 per ton; and Midwest Minerals, Pittsburg Quarry No. 5, chips, $9.50 per ton.

Both vendors were also awarded bids for Quadrant 4 in the southwest part of the county  for the following amounts: Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, AB-3, $3.90  per ton; Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, roadstone, $3.90 per ton; Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, screened roadstone, $5.98 per ton; Mulberry Limestone, Pittsburg Quarry, roadbase rock, $4.25 per ton; Midwest Minerals, Pittsburg Quarry No. 5, lateral rock, $6.75 per ton; and Midwest Minerals, Pittsburg Quarry No. 5, chips, $9.50.

Commissioner Carl Wood suggested that next year, instead of having companies submit bids separately for each quadrant, the commission might look at having them bid for the whole county.

“It may not be what we want to do, but we could look at it,” he said.
“We’ve bid by quadrant because of mileage from the quarry to the site,” said commissioner Bob Kmiec.

Commissioners also voted to add $60,000 to the equipment fund, a non-budget item involving reserve money.

Wood commended county road and bridge employees for their work on county roads after Saturday’s freezing rain and snow.

“We’re using a new kind of salt that works to 20 degrees below zero, and I understand it worked good,” he said.

The commission will  not have a Tuesday meeting today, but will meet Friday and Jan. 22. County Government Day in Topeka will be on Jan. 24 and commissioners plan to attend. There will be no commission meeting on Jan. 25.

After the meeting, Moody said that it felt good to be back on the commission.

“It’ll take a while to get back, but I’m eager to get started,” he said. “I’ve got a meeting with my road crew this afternoon and I’m going to work up a priority list.”