Cape County Commission still evaluating HVAC bids for jail

For the third consecutive meeting, the Cape Girardeau County Commission delayed awarding the bid on HVAC renovations at the county jail.

During its Monday meeting, the commission voted 3-0 to delay the awarding of the contract so it could evaluate bids and potential cost-saving measures.

The HVAC system includes a hot water boiler for heating and chillers to provide cooling. Hot and chilled water would be pumped through the building to each of the six air handlers that circulates air for heating and cooling the jail.

Renovations included in the base bid are changing out air-handler controllers and adding controls with necessary ducting. This would allow each air handler to use cool air from outside the building instead of having to run chillers during the winter.

District 1 Commissioner Paul Koeper presented a proposal he said would save the county between $50,000 and $55,000 by using county maintenance workers to perform some of the work that contractors could do on some of the additional features, or alternate bids.

"That's close to 10 percent of the total job," Koeper said. "I think everyone recognizes that's a pretty good savings overall."

District 2 Commissioner Jay Purcell expressed concern that the cost-saving measure could put too much work on the maintenance staff.

"I want to make sure we're not spreading too thin our maintenance forces," Purcell said. "... It seems like a sound decision, but I'm on the fence about doing a lot of the work ourselves. Our maintenance staff has a lot of commitments already."

Koeper said because Purcell had been out for nearly a week and a half, he did not have any concerns about delaying the vote.

"Three more days on this issue is not a big deal," Koeper said.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones agreed.

"I see nothing wrong with saving a little bit of money," Jones said. "But we will wait until Thursday."

Engineer Tom Strickland of Jackson said the delay will not significantly affect the project's completion date of late December. He added that whatever measures can be taken to cut costs is a positive move for the taxpayer in Cape Girardeau County.

"It is always beneficial to have each county commissioner thoroughly evaluate the bids and consider options for saving money," Strickland said. "If they elect to install these items with county employees, then money is saved for the taxpayers."

The commission also made a motion to proceed with legal action against Commercial Mail Service for $4,480.51 for stamps it had paid for but has yet to receive. On Aug. 25 the county mailed owner Earl E. Burnett a letter requesting a refund. Commercial Mail Service is going out of business, Jones said. Attempts by the Southeast Missourian to contact the business and the owner for comment were unsuccessful.

Jones said he understood that if the commission did not take action soon that the owner could file bankruptcy and the county would lose any promise of getting back the money.

Purcell objected because he had not studied the matter closely since he was on vacation and asked that the action be placed on the agenda for consideration at Thursday's meeting. Jones and Koeper voted in favor of the motion, while Purcell voted against it.

New policy adopted

In other action, the commission:

* Approved a motion to keep the county property tax rates at zero percent.

* Approved a motion to move forward with accepting bids for new software for the Recorder of Deeds.

* Adopted a Sunshine Law policy that establishes County Clerk Kara Clark-Summers as the custodian of records for the county.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

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