Contractor chosen for county's roofing needs

The Bourbon County Commissioners took care of some old business when they met Monday.

Progress is being made towards hiring a contractor to repair roofs on county-owned buildings damaged during the April 7 hail storm.

County Attorney Terri Johnson reported that Wray Roofing Inc. has been contracted by the county's insurance to repair roofs from the April 7 hail storm. The county did not receive any bids for the project, so the matter of finding a contractor reverted back to Kansas County Association Multiline Pool of Topeka, the county's insurance provider.

Johnson said a contract was signed by Wray Roofing. The company included a certificate of liability insurance, but not a copy of statutory and performance bonding.

"I think you do need a performance bond," Johnson said.

She advised the commissioners to not sign the contract until the company provides that information and attaches a copy to the contract. The bond should be no less than the contract amount, and that amount includes taxes even though the county is tax-exempt. She recommended the bond be for at least $155,218.47.

County Clerk Kendell Mason said she was waiting to provide the county's tax exempt paperwork until she knew who would be doing the work.

"When I apply, I need to know who I'm applying for," Mason said.

Commissioners asked David Neville, custodial supervisor, to contact Wray Roofing.

On July 26, Phil Gonzales of SourceOneRestoration, asked the commissioners to consider reopening the bids.

"I don't think you were here," Second District Commissioner Barbara Albright said to Johnson. "We just said we would double check and make sure the wheels were already turning and everything was working. That's what you just verified. You contacted the insurance company and the insurance company approved the bid of Wray Roofing and is in progress with the paperwork. I just think we need to let these people locally know."

"I just think anytime you do bids and they're closed, I don't know that it's good practice that you ever reopen them," Johnson said.

"We weren't going to reopen," Albright said. "They just asked if it was already in progress."

She also told Johnson that a notice for bid requests was published three times in the newspaper.

A second piece of old business that has been hanging in the air was voting to hire a new Road and Bridge coordinator. The commissioners voted to hire Jim Harris at an annual salary of $44,000. Harris' past employment includes serving as the Bourbon County Public Works director from 1997 until 2001 and the City of Fort Scott codes manager. More recently he has been employed with Berry Tractor.

In other business

* Tina Rockhold, regional marketing and communication manager for Mercy Hospital Fort Scott, asked for assistance from the county to block Indian and Grand roads during the Sept. 28 Mercy Day Run. The run organizers also will set cones to mark the route. Warren offered to have barricades placed in the area the night before so run organizers can set them up at 6 a.m.

* Dwayne Neil was given an extension on the deadline to have hay mowed and picked up from Elm Creek. The original deadline was Aug. 1, but Neil said weather and equipment issues have prevented him from harvesting the hay as quickly as he expected. Commissioners unanimously voted to give him a new deadline of Aug. 10.

Neil also reported that he has noticed the trash cans at the lake have not been emptied on a regular basis.

* The commissioners held a 20-minute executive session with Johnson to discuss non-elected personnel for the protection of their privacy.