Commission opens 911 bids, finalizes bond sale
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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission, during its meeting Tuesday, opened several bids for equipment for the county's new emergency 911 center and authorized the issuance of up to $14 million in bonds for the construction of a judicial annex.
Submitted by Motorola Solutions, the bids ranged from $1.8 million to $3.4 million, depending on the length of warranty included and other factors, and were referred to Global Science Technology, an independent consultant hired to oversee the project.
Also on hand for the bid opening was Paul Lauttamus of Lauttamus Communications and Security, which has served the county in the past.
Lauttamus wished the commission well with the new center, which will include furniture supplied by the Weirton business.
Following the meeting, he said, "Lauttamus Communications and Security has installed many other 911 systems throughout the region and the United States. Unfortunately, we weren't able to provide a proposal to the Brooke County Commission. Our solution didn't meet the request for proposal requirements that the commission set forth."
Plans call for the new center to be established in an area occupied until recently by the judge's chambers for the courthouse's main courtroom.
Used primarily by the 1st Judicial Circuit Court, it is among court facilities slated to be moved into the 33,000-square-foot judicial annex not far from the courthouse at Main and Sixth streets.
The commission also approved the issuance of bonds for the annex project by the county's building commission.
The bonds must be issued through the volunteer board because the county commission is prohibited from entering into an agreement beyond their current terms.
Commission President A.J. Thomas noted two readings for the bonds were approved by the board on Dec. 9 and 16.
The commission recently accepted a bid of $12,399 from Rycon Construction of Pittsburgh for the project, which has been designed by McKinley Architecture and Engineering of Wheeling.
Plans call for the three-story structure to house courtrooms and offices for the circuit, magistrate and family courts; and offices for the county prosecutor and probation department.
Other county departments will remain in the current courthouse.
The commissioners said it will provide adequate space and security for the courts.
Asked about the first physical work to be done for the project, Thomas said crews will use fill to raise the 0.37 acre lot to prevent flooding from the nearby Ohio River.
As a result, the first floor of the new building will be on the same level as the second floor of the current courthouse.
Plans to link the two buildings were dropped because of the expense involved.
County Commissioner Stacey Wise said after the former county museum on the lot was razed, the commission ensured appropriate material was used to fill the basement that remained.
The museum had moved into the former G.C. Murphy Store on Charles Street several years ago.
In other business, the commission reappointed Walter Ferguson, Rob Morris, Jill Nixon and Chatman Neely to the Brooke Hills Park board.
A volunteer still is needed for the county museum board. Those interested should submit a letter of interest to the office of County Clerk Kim Barbetta at the courthouse.