At a public meeting of the Allegany County Department of Public Works, officials discussed progress on two bridge projects, approved multiple staffing and equipment requests, and authorized routine contracts for solid waste and environmental monitoring.

The department reported that crews have set the deck on the Whitesville bridge and are finishing guardrail and applying millings so the bridge can reopen to traffic before paving. Tom Windes, superintendent, said the department is preparing two other bridges — in Andover and on County Route 31 near Friendship — to go out to bid as soon as state approvals are complete and paving season begins.

The county approved a resolution to permit the county to enter a 2025 intermunicipal mutual aid agreement, sponsored by the Allegany County Town Highway Superintendents Association, to allow participating municipalities to assist one another with highway projects and emergency road work. The resolution covers Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025, and is subject to county attorney review. Fred, a staff member with historical involvement in the agreement, said the mutual-aid arrangement dates to 1997 and was revised in 2011; the board heard that annual renewal is used so each new board reviews and signs the agreement.

Officials also approved a package of equipment purchases and bidding requests intended to update and standardize the highway fleet. The board granted permission to go out to bid for a shoulder "widener" attachment that hooks to a front-end loader to place and spread shoulder material roughly 4 feet wide, and approved purchase permissions for multiple pieces of equipment budgeted in the 2025 capital line (5130204). Items listed for purchase include new crew-cab trucks, a John Deere 640 front-end loader (to be used with the widener), two John Deere mowers, a street broom, a brush chipper, a Kobelco 300 excavator to replace the bridge crew excavator, two plow-capable crew trucks, and other heavy equipment. Public works staff said many purchases will be made using state or cooperative contracts (OGS, Sourcewell, Onondaga County contracts) where available to avoid a full county solicitation.

Solid waste purchases were approved as a bundled request in the solid waste budget line (8160.204). Public works staff told the board they had revised an earlier budget plan: rather than buying two compactor trailers, a new excavator would better meet operational needs and save about $140,000 while providing flexibility for site work and emergency responses. The board also approved one 30-yard recycling container and a new trailer; staff reported competitive quotes were obtained for those items.

The board authorized a two-year agreement with Sun King for collection of the county's electronic recycling; that agreement carries no cost to the county and is subject to county attorney review. The board also approved a one-year environmental monitoring contract with LaBella Associates for the county's landfill monitoring program covering Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, for $93,082, with an option to extend for up to four additional one-year periods; the agreement is subject to county attorney review and the fee is budgeted in 8174.200.

Weights and Measures approved a sole-source purchase of a prover from Sarafin and a trailer from JRM Equipment under the 2025 budget (6610.210). County staff said the prover is a sole-source item after consultation with the state; the trailer purchase was the lowest of multiple quotes.

The board approved routine administrative actions including hiring approvals to refill heavy motor equipment operator and motor equipment operator positions (the latter noted as resulting from a resignation attributable to insufficient pay), permission to auction surplus equipment, and authorization to bid for materials for 2025 bridge and road projects.

Meeting participants also noted a few operational updates: the on-site detour bridge was used three times in the past year; a small asbestos finding in the Conflict Defender’s office is being abated and should not delay the contractor’s schedule; and roof and building control work at a county facility is near completion, with fire alarm upgrades scheduled for mid to late February.

Votes at a glance — major approvals
- Approval of Dec. 4, 2024 minutes: approved by voice vote.
- Fill heavy motor equipment operator positions and related succession hires: approved.
- Fill motor equipment operator I (resignation replacement): approved.
- Resolution to enter 2025 intermunicipal mutual-aid agreement (Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025): approved; mover and seconder noted in the record; agreement subject to attorney review.
- Permission to bid for a shoulder widener (attachment for front-end loader): approved (motion: Demick; second: Kern).
- Permission to purchase multiple budgeted highway equipment items (5130204): approved (motion recorded; vendors cited from OGS, Sourcewell, Onondaga cooperative contracts).
- Permission to auction surplus equipment: approved.
- Authorization to bid for 2025 road and bridge materials: approved.
- Solid waste equipment purchases (including Hyundai loader and excavator, 30-yard recycling container, trailer): approved (motion: Stockton; second: Healy).
- Two-year agreement with Sun King for electronic recycling collection (no cost to county): approved (motion: Curran; second: Helios).
- LaBella environmental monitoring contract (Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025) for $93,082, with extension option: approved.
- Weights and Measures: sole-source prover purchase (Sarafin) and trailer purchase (JRM Equipment): approved.

Why this matters: The approvals update the county's highway equipment and maintenance capacity ahead of spring paving season, preserve mutual aid between municipalities for emergency road work, and secure contracts to continue recycling and landfill monitoring operations. The LaBella contract carries a budgeted cost of $93,082 and routine procurement steps were noted to ensure county attorney review where required.

The board ended the meeting after brief operational updates and confirmed plans to return with purchase approvals once bids are received for items requiring solicitation.