The Atchison County Commission met Thursday, October 8, 2026. Present at the meeting were: Curtis Livengood, Presiding Commissioner; Jim Quimby, North District Commissioner; Richard Burke, South District Commissioner; Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission; and Okema Galston, Administrative Assistant of the Commission.

Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.

Bills were reviewed and approved for payment.

Month-end department reports were reviewed and approved.

The Atchison County Commission reminds the public of the annual renewal requirement for dust control. Contact the Road and Bridge Department if you intend to have dust control placed on the county roadways. To have the appropriate forms mailed to your address, call the office of the Road and Bridge Department at 660-744-6214 option 6.

Heather Monteguise with Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments (NWMORCOG) was in to discuss the annual project prioritization worksheets that were sent to the county. Also present during the discussion was Allison Cherry, Road and Bridge Secretary. Allison previously met with the commission, Sheriff Andy Riley, and Kenny Wallace, Road and Bridge Supervisor, to gather information for the worksheets. These worksheets help the NWMORCOG find top needs in several areas for consideration on MoDOT’s unfunded needs list. One of the main concerns of the county is along Highway 136 where grain trucks turn into the grain elevator. A turning lane would be a great addition. Also mentioned was utilizing the river port between Atchison and Holt counties. If the river port was in use it would mean consistent water levels on the Missouri River.

Spencer Jones with Great River Engineering (GRE), met with the commission to discuss a change order for BRO-003 (26). Allison Cherry was also present. Mr. Jones stated that Bent 3 on BRO-R003 (26) has been partially constructed and is not in the correct location. He reported that they believe it to be due to a misplaced construction stake set by Great River Engineering. As such, Great River Engineering believes that Bent 3 needs to be corrected at their expense. Great River Engineering has been in contact with their insurance company and agrees that the cost is with them, as they were the ones who made the error. The commissioners voted to approve the change order for GRE to pay A.M. Cohort & Son, Inc. $86,807.00 for the demolition and reconstruction of Bent 3 on BRO-R003 (26).

The Notice to Proceed for BRO-R003 (001) was also discussed with Mr. Jones. After speaking with the property owner on the phone, the commission signed the notice as of October 12.

Great River Engineering also presented the commission with the following winter weather/project calendar day agreement for GRE Project 5051 -X Avenue, BRO R003-001. The contractor is North Central Bridge.

WINTER WEATHER/ PROJECT CALENDAR DAY AGREEMENT

The commission acknowledges that, as previously discussed, additional time was provided to allow the adjacent farmer adequate opportunity to harvest and remove all crops from the property and across the project site prior to removal of the existing bridge structure.

The commission and contractor have also discussed the potential for unfavorable winter weather conditions during the remaining phases of the project.

There is a concern that the bridge deck concrete placement could coincide with a cold snap, freezing temperatures, or other weather conditions that would make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the work.

To address these conditions, the commission agrees that, if weather conditions warrant a temporary suspension of the contractor’s work, the commission may issue a stop work order for the affected period.

During any commission-approved weather-related suspension, project calendar days shall be suspended for the duration of the approved stoppage.

The purpose of this agreement is to ensure that the contractor is not assessed liquidated damages for project delays resulting directly from a commission-approved suspension of work due to winter weather conditions.

This agreement applies only to an approved weather-related suspension of work and does not modify the contractor’s other contractual obligations or excuse delays unrelated to the approved suspension.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the agreement.

Rhonda Wiley, Emergency Management Director, came in to provide an update on the 25th anniversary celebration at the 911 Office. She has received several monetary donations to offset costs.

There being no further business, the commission adjourned.