Published: June 05, 2008 11:45 am            

Clark County Building Authority gets bids on new security system

Bids for the security system in the Clark County Government Building closed Wednesday. Three companies offered to complete the project, with the lowest base bid from Deco A/V at $128,500.

Additional options for the security system in the building include an emergency lock-down system to secure 10 doors on the first floor of the building if an officer engages the locks. A second alternative includes the amount each company would charge for any additional doors beyond the first 10.

Deco A/V submitted a bid for $16,638 for the first 10 doors, and $700 for any additional doors. The Louisville-based company has been in charge of security operations at Clark Memorial Hospital for the past seven years, and also is in business with Norton Hospital and Jewish Hospital, both in Louisville.

The biggest concern expressed by the building authority board was proprietary equipment. If a company is selected that uses proprietary equipment, the authority would be forced to work with that company to fix any problems with the system, or replace the equipment.

Two other companies submitted bids to the Clark County Building Authority. Dallman Systems Inc., in Jeffersonville, submitted a base bid of $147,847, with an added cost of $22,117 for the 10-door lock-down system, and $1,800 for each additional door. AVC, in Louisville, submitted a base bid of $150,134, plus $5,150 for the 10-door lock-down system and $890 each for additional doors.

The board tabled the decision to choose a bidder, and to allow Building Authority Director Mark Van Gilder an opportunity to look into the bids and issues with proprietary equipment.

County Council President Dave Abbott said the council plans to approve the appropriation of $200,000 for the building security system Monday, while the authority is waiting for approval for a bond from the Indiana tax commissioner.

“Of course, we support this 100 percent,” he said. “If you need it, the money will be there as of Monday night.”

The accountant for the board has been submitting letters to area banks for the financing of the bond to gauge banks’ interest in working with the authority. The CPA hopes to close on the bond within 10 to 14 days from the date the tax commissioner gives approval.

The rush to install a security system in the county building stems from an incident in April when a woman pulled out a gun while at an appointment with her probation officer, and attempted to fire shots. Luckily, the gun jammed. The incident, however, sparked the need for a more extensive security system to be put in place in the building.

In other business

• The board approved a request by Van Gilder to employ the building staff on a four-day work schedule, switching employees from five eight-hour days to four 10-hour days.

“Several employees live way out in the county, and with gas prices the way they are, people are complaining,” Van Gilder said. “People drive in from Charlestown, Sellersburg — one person is coming from Valley Station (in Kentucky). I think it would help them out, and they’re pushing it, too.

“It won’t hurt anything, and it will probably help some — we’ll have two hours extra with employees when the building is closed to get some things done when people aren’t here.”

The board unanimously approved the new schedule for county building employees.

• The board also approved a request by Van Gilder to hire a high school senior this summer to do odd jobs around the building. The new employee will be paid minimum wage, and will do things such as washing windows.

“Years ago, the building authority hired three or four at a time,” Van Gilder said. “I got plenty of work.”

That request also received unanimous approval by the board.

        

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