County approves purchase order for 105,000 gallons of road oil at $2.75 per gallon

Atchison County commissioners voted 3-0 to accept a single bid for road oil at $2.75 per gallon and to approve a purchase order for 105,000 gallons, totaling $288,750.

Emily Sternsorf, interim Road and Bridge superintendent, told the commission that bids opened at $2.75 per gallon and that oil prices had only risen 1 cent in two years. "I 100% recommend that we accept that as soon as possible so we can get that lower price," she said.

The purchase order covers an estimated supply that staff said historically covers roughly 20 miles of chip-and-seal application. The commission authorized staff to prepare the purchase order and sign procurement paperwork to allow purchases without waiting for a future meeting.

Next steps: Road and Bridge will issue a purchase order from its 2026 budget and proceed with ordering the oil to support planned chip-and-seal operations this season.