County Approves Bids For Tower Project
November 11, 2020 at 11:44 p.m.
By Amanda Bridgman-
Two bids were approved by commissioners from MPX Solutions for $328,629.03 for steel towers and $221,287.50 for labor. Terry Burnworth, with Pyramid Consulting in Indianapolis, recommended commissioners approve those bids and rebid the work for concrete, fencing, electrical and excavating, along with furniture and consoles for central Dispatch.
Those bids will be due to commissioners Dec. 8.
The project will place two 300-foot towers in the county, along with a 400-foot tower in Claypool and two 180-foot supplementary towers.
“The project is moving along, and the towers are the next step,” Commissioner Cary Groninger said, adding the project is anticipated to be finished mid- to third-quarter of next year.
The commissioners also approved the go-ahead for Kosciusko County Jail Commander Shane Coney to apply for a coronavirus grant for $148,130.19.
Coney said the grant will be used to purchase laptops for the probation department, community corrections program and the prosecutor’s office, along with gas masks, four temperature kiosk scanners and two UV-C lights that will clean the jail.
“(The lights) will kill COVID, the flus, MRSA, lice,” Coney said. “I’ll be able to use this for years.”
“As Donald Trump would say, this is huge,” Commissioner Bob Conley said.
Commissioners also approved the request from KCSO Chief Deputy Shane Bucher to purchase a Dodge Charger for $27,350 from Thomas Dodge using leftover money in the budget. In 2021, Bucher said the department will add five more vehicles to their fleet, with plans to purchase three from Kerlin’s and two from Rice Ford. Bucher said KCSO has about five vehicles with more than 150,000 miles on them now.
Also Tuesday, the commissioners:?
• Approved a request from Cathy Reed with Human Resources for county employees to be able to take unpaid leave if they have already used up their 10-day limit related to COVID-19. Commissioner Brad Jackson said the county should approve it, otherwise it would be like basically punishing someone for doing the right thing and staying home.
• Heard from Kosciusko County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver that the recent surge of cases is putting pressure on medical care capacity and pushing aside care for others.
“We urge citizens of Kosciusko County to help,” a letter Weaver dispersed read. “Now is the time. Be a phenomenal neighbor, as you may be silently spreading the virus. SMASH the pandemic: Social distancing, Masking, Avoiding crows, Staying home if you are sick, Handwashing.”
The next commissioners meeting is 9 a.m. Nov. 24 in the old courthouse.
Two bids were approved by commissioners from MPX Solutions for $328,629.03 for steel towers and $221,287.50 for labor. Terry Burnworth, with Pyramid Consulting in Indianapolis, recommended commissioners approve those bids and rebid the work for concrete, fencing, electrical and excavating, along with furniture and consoles for central Dispatch.
Those bids will be due to commissioners Dec. 8.
The project will place two 300-foot towers in the county, along with a 400-foot tower in Claypool and two 180-foot supplementary towers.
“The project is moving along, and the towers are the next step,” Commissioner Cary Groninger said, adding the project is anticipated to be finished mid- to third-quarter of next year.
The commissioners also approved the go-ahead for Kosciusko County Jail Commander Shane Coney to apply for a coronavirus grant for $148,130.19.
Coney said the grant will be used to purchase laptops for the probation department, community corrections program and the prosecutor’s office, along with gas masks, four temperature kiosk scanners and two UV-C lights that will clean the jail.
“(The lights) will kill COVID, the flus, MRSA, lice,” Coney said. “I’ll be able to use this for years.”
“As Donald Trump would say, this is huge,” Commissioner Bob Conley said.
Commissioners also approved the request from KCSO Chief Deputy Shane Bucher to purchase a Dodge Charger for $27,350 from Thomas Dodge using leftover money in the budget. In 2021, Bucher said the department will add five more vehicles to their fleet, with plans to purchase three from Kerlin’s and two from Rice Ford. Bucher said KCSO has about five vehicles with more than 150,000 miles on them now.
Also Tuesday, the commissioners:?
• Approved a request from Cathy Reed with Human Resources for county employees to be able to take unpaid leave if they have already used up their 10-day limit related to COVID-19. Commissioner Brad Jackson said the county should approve it, otherwise it would be like basically punishing someone for doing the right thing and staying home.
• Heard from Kosciusko County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver that the recent surge of cases is putting pressure on medical care capacity and pushing aside care for others.
“We urge citizens of Kosciusko County to help,” a letter Weaver dispersed read. “Now is the time. Be a phenomenal neighbor, as you may be silently spreading the virus. SMASH the pandemic: Social distancing, Masking, Avoiding crows, Staying home if you are sick, Handwashing.”
The next commissioners meeting is 9 a.m. Nov. 24 in the old courthouse.
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