From left, Terry Burnworth, of Pyramid Consulting, and Kosciusko Commissioner Vice President Bob Conley talk during Tuesday’s meeting. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

By Lasca Randels
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Bids for the Kosciusko County Public Safety Communication Infrastructure Project were opened at the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15.

The project consists of infrastructure work for public safety communications and wireless broadband, with work occurring at multiple sites. Each of the three public safety communication sites will consist of a compound that includes a communication tower, an equipment shelter, a generator, an electrical transformer and an electrical service disconnect switch. 

Each compound will be surfaced with gravel and accessed by a gravel drive. The foundation for each tower will consist of three concrete piers, extending into the ground and onto a concrete foundation.   

The shelters, generators and transformers will have concrete bases and each tower will have obstruction lighting. A chain link fence with barbed wire along the top will enclose each compound. 

As part of the bidding, there is an alternate for two additional tower sites, to be used primarily for broadband distribution. The compounds are similar but smaller in size to the public safety communication compounds.

This project also includes work at the Kosciusko County Dispatch Center located in the basement of the Justice Building. Work there includes replacement of dispatch consoles and carpeting.  

Bids were initially received and opened at the Nov. 10 commissioners meeting; however, Terry Burnworth of Pyramid Consulting in Indianapolis recommended that commissioners rebid for electrical, fencing and the other items needed for the towers. 

Some of the sites had not been completely surveyed when initial bids were sought, Burnworth said, and some of the bids came in higher than expected due to speculation. 

Bids opened at the commissioners meeting today included: 

1. Grand River Construction, Hudsonville, Mich., $337,000 for concrete. Alternate bid: $124.000
2. Ransbottom Excavating, Claypool, $56,954 for excavating. Alternate bid: $24.456.
3. Martell Electric, South Bend, $295,000 for electric work.  Alternate bid: $43,000.
4. D&D Electric, Etna Green, $255,429 for electric work. Alternate bid: $30,932.
5. MPX Solutions, Anderson, $172,237 for concrete. Alternate bid: $61,838.
6. Robinson Construction, Warsaw, $307,837 for concrete. Alternate bid: $69,102.
7. Everest Excavating LLC, Warsaw, $96,000 for excavating. Alternate bid: $35,000. 
8. Cobalt Civil, LLC, Winchester, $155,035 for concrete,  $134,848 for excavating and $82,140 for fencing
9. LDP Excavating, Warsaw, $204,000 for excavating. Alternate bid: $45,000.
10. Infra Critical Facilities Engineering & Consulting, Noblesville, $256,153 for electric work. Alternate bid: $31,558.
11. Dispatch Products, Angola, $99,912 for furniture.
12. Watson Consults, Poulsbo, Wash., $82,760 for furniture. 

Burnworth was given approval to take the bids under advisement. He will return to the Dec. 22 commissioners meeting with his recommendations.

Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty recommended approval of the following bids for the county highway department truck body and chassis: Sorg Dodge for the chassis in the amount of $47,792; and WA Jones for the truck body in the amount of $97,982. Commissioners approved Moriarty’s recommendations. 

Moriarty also informed commissioners that the county was awarded a Community Crossings grant in the amount of $492,000.

“We’re very excited and very proud of our county for getting that award,” Moriarty said. “It’s a huge benefit to the county.”

County Administrator Marsha McSherry announced that the county has been awarded a second round of money through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The amount received was 10 percent of the $257,422 received in the first round. The money is for financial support of public awareness education. McSherry said Kosciusko County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver has one person who would qualify for salary reimbursement. This was approved by commissioners.

A quote for $9,726.51 submitted by Clint Davis Construction was approved for work in the old courtroom as preparations are being made to accommodate video conferencing live-streaming. The quote includes shelving and a wooden valance for a projector screen. McSherry said Clint Davis Construction is proposing a 16-foot walnut valance above the double door entrance to the courtroom that will match the existing woodwork as county officials strive to retain the historical integrity of the old courtroom.

Commissioner President Brad Jackson addressed the loss of Superior Court 1 Judge David Cates and asked that everyone keep Cates’ wife, Kim, and the entire family in their prayers.

In other news:

• John Mort of Warsaw was honored as Veteran of the Month.
• Kosciusko Area Bus Service (KABS) General Manager Tony Peterson received approval for 2021 vehicle contracts for two medium transit buses. The agreement is completely covered by federal and state funds this year, Peterson said.
• The next regular meeting will be 9 a.m. Dec. 22.