ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Multiple departments will be getting new gear and/or equipment thanks to action taken by the Liberal City Commission Tuesday evening.
Among the requests was for bunker gear for the Liberal Fire Department.
“Per the agenda, the Liberal Fire Department is seeking approval to purchase six pairs of turnout coats and pants. This is a regular budgeted item in our equipment replacement program for protective gear and equipment,” Liberal Fire Chief Kelly Kirk said. “Capt. Jose Torres sought bids from vendors utilizing our PPE specifications, and we ended up getting responses from four vendors for the purchase of bunker gear. The highest bid came from Weis Fire, while the lowest bid was from Municipal Energy Services. That’s a good thing for us because the gear is issued to specific individuals, but when they leave, it goes into storage, and as we take on new volunteers and full-time firefighters, we have to outfit them, and it’s best to have all-matched gear. Our intent is to keep our PPE on a five- to seven-year replacement program. The quantity purchased annually can vary due to staffing level, damage and wear, or other unforeseen circumstances. In fact, one of our guys had his vehicle broken into and had his set of gear stolen, and we have an insurance claim out for that right now to try and recover that stuff, which also included a radio and some other important items.”
Ultimately, the commission unanimously approved the purchase of six sets of protective coats and pants from Municipal Energy Services for $14,514.78.
The purchases of two new mowers were also approved by the commission for the Parks Department and Willow Tree Golf Course.
“We’re requesting the purchase of a Hustler 104-inch Super Z mower. I would like to emphasize this is a budgeted 2025 purchase, and we did receive quotes from Keating Tractor, and Kansas Golf & Turf. Keating Tractor was the low bid by $1,559, so we recommend purchasing from Keating Tractor,” Parks Director Bruce Young said. “This mower will go into full-time service, and it will be used to help maintain the industrial park area. The airport does have a Hustler 72-inch mower, but a 104-inch would much better suit the needs of mowing ditches and other areas like that.”
“We are in need of a new fairway mower at the golf course. We currently operate with two machines, because it streamlines efficiency and leaves a better quality of cut for smooth, consistent turf in the fairways,” Willow Tree Golf Course Director Chris Vermillion said. “We received a new machine last year, replacing an older unit, and we would like to do the same this year. The unit that needs to be replaced is a 2008 model that currently has around 5,000 hours on it. It has been a good machine, but is starting to have a plethora of mechanical issues like overheating and other electrical issues. Last season, it spent almost as much time in the maintenance shop as it did on the course. This is a budgeted item for the 2025 year, and we currently have $75,000 on that line item #100-4550-47041. We solicited quotes and received bids from Van Wall Equipment in Lenexa, Professional Turf Products in Lenexa, and Kansas Golf and Turf in Wichita.”
Both purchases were ultimately approved by the commission, with the Hustler 104-inch Super Z mower from Keating Tractor & Equipment being approved for the Parks Department by a margin of 4-0 (with Commissioner Jeff Parsons abstaining) in an amount not to exceed $27,000. and a John Deere 6080A E-Cut Hybrid fairway mower for Willow Tree Golf Course being approved unanimously for an amount not to exceed $62,500.
The Water Department was also on hand for a pair of requests.
“We’re looking into replacing our vactron since our current one is about 10 years old already and has already been used a lot, almost every day. We went out for bids and received quotes from three different vendors. Our old vactron is going to the Parks Department, and this is a 2025 budgeted item,” Rosales said. “We’re also looking into purchasing a new air compressor since our current compressor is from the 1990s. We received two quotes for a new one, and we would prefer to have a similar model to what the Streets Department and Traffic Maintenance are using. Like the vactron, this is a 2025 budgeted item that will be coming from account 530- 4942-47041 for new equipment and machinery.”
“Refresh my memory, what exactly does the vactron do?” Parsons asked.
“That’s what we use to help pothole lines, help out with main breaks while looking at water and mud and all of that,” Rosales said. “I can’t emphasize enough just how much this piece of equipment is used, and it’s almost indispensable.”
Ultimately, the commission unanimously approved the quote from Key Equipment for the purchase of a HURCO VAC600 not to exceed $100,000 and the purchase of a new air compressor from United Rentals not to exceed $30,000. Both purchases will be coming from account 530- 4942-47041 for new equipment and machinery.
Also unanimously approved by the commission was the implementation of an employee recognition program for the City of Liberal and a three-year maintenance contract with Safety Vision, LLC for $28,200.
