By Eamon Baird
TROY — The Miami County Commissioners awarded a bid and signed a notice to proceed with Bruns General Contracting Enterprise of Saint Henry for the Sheriff’s Tactical Vehicle Project during their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
The cost for the services is $441,236, which includes a furnace and condensing unit for $26,392, and the pavement widening for $9,393.
The primary function of the storage facility will be to hold the Lenco BearCat [SWAT] vehicle, which was approved for purchase by the commissioners on Nov. 17, 2022, for $285,256 through the use of unrestricted American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Facilities and Maintenance Director Ben Howlett talked about other facility functions during the meeting.
“This will mainly be holding the BearCat that the Sheriff purchased earlier this year, including two other vehicles, but this will also be a meeting place and storage facility for the Sheriff to maintain evidence storage in a climatized building,” he said.
The commissioners also accepted a quote and authorized the purchase of four Cisco Network Switches and Related Equipment for the IT department for $94,950 from MNJ Technologies from Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
The switches to be replaced are in the main distribution location of the Safety Building and serve as the “hub” of all other switches in the building.
“Typically, we try to replace one-seventh of our switches every year to keep them in rotation which is is roughly about 11 switches. Since these are the main switches and these are fiber optic switches, they are more expensive, so they’re only requesting four this time,” said Adam Emswiler, director of the information technology (IT) department.
In other business, the commissioners approved or authorized the following resolutions:
• To sign a Title IV E placement contract with the department of job and family services with Silver Linings Agency of Fairfield. The contract period runs from July 1 2024 through Dec. 31, 2025 for $500,000.
• To sign a participation agreement with the County Employee Benefit Consortium of Ohio (CEBCO) Inc., following Sec. 9.833 of the Ohio Revised Code. The three-year agreement, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, is to obtain employee benefit plan coverage and administrative services relating to certain employee benefit plans for its officials, employees, and their eligible dependents.
• To acknowledge the 2024 Data Act Grant for $7,570 on behalf of the Miami County Board of Elections. These funds are being distributed to election agencies to provide financial assistance and implementation and updating of the county voter registration system.
• To accept funding for the Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County under Sections 3113.34-3113.36 of the Ohio Revised Code.
• To accept credit card expenditures for the Commissioners’ Office for work-related expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024.
• To sign an employee requisition for a full-time social services caseworker in the department of job and family services at a pay range from $21.56 to $29.17 depending on qualifications due to the departure of Brandon Sphar.
• To close all county offices falling under the jurisdiction of the commissioners on Friday, Nov. 29, except those required to remain open for public safety in recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday.
At the end of the meeting, the commissioners announced an upcoming Elected Officials group photo taken at the Miami Courthouse Plaza on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 11:15 a.m.
The commissioners also announced they will attend a 10-county luncheon on Friday, Oct. 4 at JT’s Brew & Grill in Greenville at 11 a.m.
