County accepts sole bid for SUV

McCOOK, Neb. — By their meeting Monday morning, Red Willow County commissioners had received just one bid for a new four-wheel-drive vehicle for the sheriff's office.

The bid, for a 2020 Dodge Durango, came from Deveny Motors, McCook. Commissioners unanimously approved the $24,147 purchase. Commission chairman Earl McNutt said he and his fellow commissioners were surprised they received just one bid.

Sheriff Alan Kotschwar told commissioners he hand-delivered bid specs for a 2020 all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle to Wagner Ford, Wagner Chevrolet and Janssen-Kool Honda, all of McCook. Janssen Motors of Holdrege requested a copy of the specs, he said.

The bid submission deadline was 10 a.m., this morning, when the commissioners' agenda set aside time for the bid opening. Deveny returned its bid on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Deveny's bid was $28,088 for a new Durango with a CD player. The bid was $27,647 ($441 less) for a model without a CD player. The trade-in value of the sheriff's department's 2007 Dodge Durango was $3,500.

Kotschwar told commissioners that a CD player was not a necessity, and commissioner Cayla Richards made a motion, seconded by fellow commissioner Steve Downer, to purchase the Durango without the CD player and with the $3,500 trade-in for a total purchase price of $24,147.

The delivery date is 90-180 days, and the vehicle comes with a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.

Light bars will be installed after the purchase.

Kotschwar said the Durango will be driven by one of his deputies.

In other action, commissioners:

— Approved an appeal for a homestead exemption application previously denied by county assessor Kristi Korell because initially the change of ownership and the date of the deed was prior to the state's Aug. 16 deadline for homestead exemptions. However, the sellers, Roger and Rita Heflin, provided proof that they still owned and occupied the house through Aug. 21, and were therefore eligible for the homestead exemption.

— Approved a resolution certifying that, before the state's Dec. 31 deadline, Chris Miller of Miller & Associates, McCook, is the county's highway superintendent.