Commissioners open bids for jury assembly room renovation

COSHOCTON – The Coshocton County Commissioners met Wednesday, Jan. 27 with Steve Lonsinger, health commissioner and Robbie McMasters, director of Coshocton County EMA to discuss the PIO grant contract. The grant is currently utilized under the health department and is used in preparing for public health situations including exercises and planning, which involve updating emergency plans and exercising resource identification. This grant of more than $69,000 is used partly to fund the tabletop and functional exercises that are required based on each budget period.

The health department wants to partner with the Coshocton County EMA to better manage emergency plans county-wide and to make sure emergency plans in place cohere with each other in the event of a major outbreak. The health department and EMA have worked together in the past to coordinate exercise programs. The contract is valid through the end of June and a proposal for the grant must be written by the end of February.

The Coshocton County Health Department also has a 0.2 mill levy for five years on the March ballot. The grant mentioned is completely separate from the levy. The health department has been seeing several cuts in their full-time employees recently and has not been able to fill vacant positions. If passed, the levy will cost a $100,000 homeowner $7 a year for county residents. The health department is funded by townships and villages.

“We feel like it’s a small cost for keeping the agency’s finances secure,” said Lonsinger. “It will keep services available locally so that we don’t have to partner with other counties.”

Commissioner Shryock asked about the water issue in Flint, MI and if the health department has heard of any problems with the water supply locally. Lonsinger said there are no concerns yet, but if a homeowner has concerns to flush pipes first thing in the morning for at least one minute. Don’t boil the water as that concentrates the lead.

The commissioners then opened bids for the jury assembly room renovations. There were five bids present. Hathaway Constructions presented a bid bond and had a bid of $54,990. G&M Construction had a bid bond and a bid of $72,500. Lepi Enterprises presented a bid bond and had a bid of $63,900. Weaver Inc. did not have a bid bond and their bid was not read. Paul Construction presented a bid bond with a bid of $54,938. The engineer’s estimate was $74,000. All bids were turned over to Pat Kelly of Kelly Architectural Services for review and recommendation.

The jury assembly room will be renovated to look more historically accurate with the courthouse time period. The HVAC equipment will be hidden above a drop ceiling that will look like pressed tin, and the room will also feature new lights and paint.

beth@coshoctoncountybeacon.com

Category: Government