Bids Opened For County Communications Project
October 28, 2020 at 1:28 a.m.
By David [email protected]
The project includes three towers to improve emergency services radio communication and broadband internet in the county.
Terry Burnworth, with Pyramid Consulting, and county attorney Chad Miner opened the bids.
Yoder Construction, Nappanee, bid $185,500 for concrete work; $157,300 for the precast shelters; $112,800 for civil work for the sites; and $42,000 for fencing at all sites.
Rex Collins Electric, Marion, bid $256,922 for the electric work; while Martell Electric, South Bend, bid $298,730.65 for the electric work.
Cobalt Civil, Winchester, bid $85,866 for civil work and $49,257 for fencing.
MPX Solutions, Anderson, bid $158,696.68 for concrete; $128,208 for the shelters; $221,287.50 for 35 TL, the labor to stack the tower; and $328,629.03 for 35TM, the tower steel.
Info Critical Facilities Engineering Consulting, Carmel, bid $318,700 for the electric. The final bid was $378,958 from Sabre Industries, Sioux City, Iowa, for tower material.
Burnworth told the commissioners he’d take the bids under advisement to review for the lowest possible bidders and give the commissioners his recommendation at the Nov. 10 meeting.
Sheriff Kyle Dukes presented the work release agreement to the commissioners with some changes.
Work Release Director Larry Holderman is retiring Jan. 1 and falls under the merit status. Dukes said his “game plan” is to move that merit status back to the sheriff’s office patrol division Jan. 1.
“So looking how a non-merit work release director, how that looks, starts with a job description. That had to be changed. That was then sent off to the firm that Kosciusko County uses to set the wage, so that was sent to them. They looked at it. Came up with a wage for a non-merit work release director. That has been sent back and done,” Dukes said.
He also sat down with the county’s wage committee and discussed the “game plan,” reviewed the set wage and job description.
“Also looking at, sitting down with Kosciusko County government, seeing what an out-of-pocket cost is to a benefit package. So getting a wage and an out-of-pocket cost and combining those, we came up with a figure,” Dukes said.
He said he wanted to have a non-merit work release director and also financially reimburse the county through the commissary account at work release, and put that back in the general fund so the non-merit position is funded through work release.
“I think looking at the situation, and the situation that lies ahead of us, that this is a win-win for everybody involved, and I firmly believe this is the right thing to do for Kosciusko County,” Dukes said.
Commissioner Bob Conley asked if the total package presented – totaling about $84,000 – was with benefits, insurance, retirement, etc. Dukes said it was.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Commissioner Brad Jackson said.
Dukes agreed and said he sat down with Miner and worked out an agreement so the arrangement is only good while Dukes is sheriff.
“I think this is the best deal, the best deal, for Kosciusko County,” Dukes said.
Commissioner Cary Groninger confirmed that this would then allow the sheriff’s office to have another merit officer on the road. Dukes said yes.
Dukes said there are 36 merit deputy sheriffs with a county population of about 82,000. “So, looking at it and how to get the most amount of coverage, we work 12-hour shifts. And right now, we have five per shift,” he said, but they average four per shift with people taking vacations and training time.
The reserve officers helps fill shifts.
“It’s an aggressive program. I think it’s doable. My prayer is that you can find someone that can handle that job. You’ve got such diversity, male, female, both ... they’ve got very unique situations and it’s going to take a very special person to do that. It’s not going to be easy,” Conley said.
The commissioners approved the work release agreement.
Dukes earlier noted that the county/city auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 28, tentatively at the Warsaw Police Department. It will be a live and online auction.
County Health Administrator Bob Weaver said the new COVID-19 testing site is a partnership between the Bowen Center and the Kosciusko County Health Department. It’s at the Bowen Center’s health clinic on Dubois Drive.
“The federal government has made available to the local health department $200,000 to use in that venture, and their thinking is $100,000 for the first testing site and $100,000 for a second testing site, maybe in the spring,” Weaver said.
He said he talked with County Auditor Michelle Puckett about it and thinks they can proceed in a good way with the CARES Act grant funds of $200,000. He asked the commissioners for their approval to proceed.
Conley asked what the money would be spent on. Weaver said it’s mostly for paying the personnel. Bowen Center has the facilities and personnel and the Indiana State Department of Health provides the materials.
Groninger said he thinks it’s a great thing and the county has partnered with the city of Warsaw to provide free testing at three MedStat locations and Parkview Warsaw. After the Bowen Center opened last week, it’s been testing 100-150 people per day, he said. “I think it’s a real need in our community,” he said, with Bowen Center stepping up to provide the facility and training. It’s a drive-through facility. At this point, with the greater need, Groninger said the testing at MedStat and Parkview has continued.
“It’s been opened about a week and a half and we’ve done right around 600-plus,” Weaver said.
The grant funding was approved.
Groninger asked if there was a timeline for the second location.
“I think it’s based upon need. You know, if we keep doing this many at one clinic site, it might be advantageous just to keep that one going and maybe expand it,” Weaver said. He said that would require them to ask the federal government if they could use the second $100,000 not for the second site but to maintain the first site. Weaver said he has those “feelers” out now.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented Core Mechanical’s recommendation that the county add a third chiller to the roof of the Justice Building for $242,531. McSherry recommended the county do the plumbing and “everything we can this year in this year’s budget to get ready for this if we decided to move forward and purchase the (third) chiller in next year’s budget.” The commissioners approved McSherry’s recommendation.
She also presented a plan to replace the jail toilets in blocks F, G, H, A, L and J to prevent flooding in the Justice Building. Willoughby estimated the county can save $27,000 a year on its water bill by being able to control the water flow with their system. McSherry’s recommendation was to do two blocks at first, see how it goes and then decide on the other four blocks.
The total for the whole project is $130,425.67. F, G, H, K and L blocks, since they only have 12 sink/toilet combinations per block would be $25172.30. J block, with 14 combinations, would be $24,564.18.
The commissioners approved the installation for the first two blocks.
The project includes three towers to improve emergency services radio communication and broadband internet in the county.
Terry Burnworth, with Pyramid Consulting, and county attorney Chad Miner opened the bids.
Yoder Construction, Nappanee, bid $185,500 for concrete work; $157,300 for the precast shelters; $112,800 for civil work for the sites; and $42,000 for fencing at all sites.
Rex Collins Electric, Marion, bid $256,922 for the electric work; while Martell Electric, South Bend, bid $298,730.65 for the electric work.
Cobalt Civil, Winchester, bid $85,866 for civil work and $49,257 for fencing.
MPX Solutions, Anderson, bid $158,696.68 for concrete; $128,208 for the shelters; $221,287.50 for 35 TL, the labor to stack the tower; and $328,629.03 for 35TM, the tower steel.
Info Critical Facilities Engineering Consulting, Carmel, bid $318,700 for the electric. The final bid was $378,958 from Sabre Industries, Sioux City, Iowa, for tower material.
Burnworth told the commissioners he’d take the bids under advisement to review for the lowest possible bidders and give the commissioners his recommendation at the Nov. 10 meeting.
Sheriff Kyle Dukes presented the work release agreement to the commissioners with some changes.
Work Release Director Larry Holderman is retiring Jan. 1 and falls under the merit status. Dukes said his “game plan” is to move that merit status back to the sheriff’s office patrol division Jan. 1.
“So looking how a non-merit work release director, how that looks, starts with a job description. That had to be changed. That was then sent off to the firm that Kosciusko County uses to set the wage, so that was sent to them. They looked at it. Came up with a wage for a non-merit work release director. That has been sent back and done,” Dukes said.
He also sat down with the county’s wage committee and discussed the “game plan,” reviewed the set wage and job description.
“Also looking at, sitting down with Kosciusko County government, seeing what an out-of-pocket cost is to a benefit package. So getting a wage and an out-of-pocket cost and combining those, we came up with a figure,” Dukes said.
He said he wanted to have a non-merit work release director and also financially reimburse the county through the commissary account at work release, and put that back in the general fund so the non-merit position is funded through work release.
“I think looking at the situation, and the situation that lies ahead of us, that this is a win-win for everybody involved, and I firmly believe this is the right thing to do for Kosciusko County,” Dukes said.
Commissioner Bob Conley asked if the total package presented – totaling about $84,000 – was with benefits, insurance, retirement, etc. Dukes said it was.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Commissioner Brad Jackson said.
Dukes agreed and said he sat down with Miner and worked out an agreement so the arrangement is only good while Dukes is sheriff.
“I think this is the best deal, the best deal, for Kosciusko County,” Dukes said.
Commissioner Cary Groninger confirmed that this would then allow the sheriff’s office to have another merit officer on the road. Dukes said yes.
Dukes said there are 36 merit deputy sheriffs with a county population of about 82,000. “So, looking at it and how to get the most amount of coverage, we work 12-hour shifts. And right now, we have five per shift,” he said, but they average four per shift with people taking vacations and training time.
The reserve officers helps fill shifts.
“It’s an aggressive program. I think it’s doable. My prayer is that you can find someone that can handle that job. You’ve got such diversity, male, female, both ... they’ve got very unique situations and it’s going to take a very special person to do that. It’s not going to be easy,” Conley said.
The commissioners approved the work release agreement.
Dukes earlier noted that the county/city auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 28, tentatively at the Warsaw Police Department. It will be a live and online auction.
County Health Administrator Bob Weaver said the new COVID-19 testing site is a partnership between the Bowen Center and the Kosciusko County Health Department. It’s at the Bowen Center’s health clinic on Dubois Drive.
“The federal government has made available to the local health department $200,000 to use in that venture, and their thinking is $100,000 for the first testing site and $100,000 for a second testing site, maybe in the spring,” Weaver said.
He said he talked with County Auditor Michelle Puckett about it and thinks they can proceed in a good way with the CARES Act grant funds of $200,000. He asked the commissioners for their approval to proceed.
Conley asked what the money would be spent on. Weaver said it’s mostly for paying the personnel. Bowen Center has the facilities and personnel and the Indiana State Department of Health provides the materials.
Groninger said he thinks it’s a great thing and the county has partnered with the city of Warsaw to provide free testing at three MedStat locations and Parkview Warsaw. After the Bowen Center opened last week, it’s been testing 100-150 people per day, he said. “I think it’s a real need in our community,” he said, with Bowen Center stepping up to provide the facility and training. It’s a drive-through facility. At this point, with the greater need, Groninger said the testing at MedStat and Parkview has continued.
“It’s been opened about a week and a half and we’ve done right around 600-plus,” Weaver said.
The grant funding was approved.
Groninger asked if there was a timeline for the second location.
“I think it’s based upon need. You know, if we keep doing this many at one clinic site, it might be advantageous just to keep that one going and maybe expand it,” Weaver said. He said that would require them to ask the federal government if they could use the second $100,000 not for the second site but to maintain the first site. Weaver said he has those “feelers” out now.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented Core Mechanical’s recommendation that the county add a third chiller to the roof of the Justice Building for $242,531. McSherry recommended the county do the plumbing and “everything we can this year in this year’s budget to get ready for this if we decided to move forward and purchase the (third) chiller in next year’s budget.” The commissioners approved McSherry’s recommendation.
She also presented a plan to replace the jail toilets in blocks F, G, H, A, L and J to prevent flooding in the Justice Building. Willoughby estimated the county can save $27,000 a year on its water bill by being able to control the water flow with their system. McSherry’s recommendation was to do two blocks at first, see how it goes and then decide on the other four blocks.
The total for the whole project is $130,425.67. F, G, H, K and L blocks, since they only have 12 sink/toilet combinations per block would be $25172.30. J block, with 14 combinations, would be $24,564.18.
The commissioners approved the installation for the first two blocks.
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