By Eamon Baird
TROY — The Miami County Commissioners authorized a landscaping and snow and ice removal quote for the Commerce Center, and data installation for nine courtrooms during their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
The commissioners accepted a quote from Lost Creek Lawn & Fence Co Inc. of Casstown, as requested by Facilities and Maintenance Director Ben Howlett for landscaping/mowing and snow/ice removal at the Miami County Commerce Center.
The total cost of the project will not exceed $62,906.16 with $14,653.08 for landscaping/mowing & $16,800 for snow and ice removal annually, for a two-year contract to run from Oct. 1, 2024, through October 31, 2026.
“This is a renewal for a new contract for our commerce center, basically the same specifications we’ve had currently,” Howlett said.
Commissioner Greg Simmons asked if there isn’t a lot of snow removal for the next two years and if the county still has to pay the full amount.
“No, [since] it’s per occurrence and we have a built-in allowance to it so we may not pay the full $62,906.16,” Howlett replied.
The commissioners also accept the attached quote from Garber Electric of Englewood, authorizing the IT Department to purchase Connectrac, a floor-based cable management solution for power and data installation for a Justice and AV Solutions (JAVS) replacement project in the nine courtrooms with associated hardware, including a one-year warranty on material and labor at a total cost of $108,317.15.
Adam Emswiler, director of the IT department for Miami County spoke to the commissioners at the meeting.
“This is a connect track that will have data and power to each of the witness stands and legal tables in the courtrooms,” Emswiler said. “This actually runs, will run underneath the carpet, and be ADA compliant, rather than coring down through the concrete to the floor below what we’ve done previously, since we need more cable in each location.”
In other business, the commissioners approved or authorized the following resolutions:
• For the Commissioners’ Office to advertise Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) for professional design & engineering services in the calendar year 2025 for county facilities and properties as well as for highway, bridge, water distribution, wastewater collection, and property acquisition.
• A quote from Dow-Jones Properties, Inc. dba Indoff, Middletown authorizing the Communication Center to purchase seventy-five Strive four-leg armless chairs with upholstered seats and twenty Sift task armless mesh chairs for the two conference rooms at a cost of $31,023.35 due to the current chairs being over 30 years old.
• A quote from Four-U-Office of Celina, authoring the purchase of an Industrial Conveyor Large Volume Shredder with cross-cut and accessories for the Safety Building at a cost of $12,447, as the current shredder purchased in 1991 does not have cross-cut shredding capabilities and parts for the unit are no longer available. Further the open design of the current shredder presents a potential safety risk.
• To sign a First Amendment to the FY 2022 Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant (HMEP) Agreement as requested by the Emergency Management Agency Director Joel Smith for an extension until Oct.18. Said extension will allow for time for the submission of the final cash request thus enabling the Ohio EMA to reimburse Miami County the $2,360 costs to host the Incident Response to Explosives Course held at the Piqua Fire Station on Sept. 21.
• A fourth release of $155,460.90 from the Financial Guaranty, submitted by 3-GEN-D LLC for the construction of Emerson Crossing Subdivision, Section No. 3. Construction work to date has been reviewed and approved by the Engineer and appropriate County Departments.
• A ninth release of $27,825 from the Financial Guaranty, submitted by North Branch Land Company LLC for the construction of North Branch Pass Subdivision, Phase 2. Construction work to date has been reviewed and approved by the Engineer and appropriate County Departments.
• A sixth release of $4,900 from the Financial Guaranty, submitted by North Branch Land Company LLC for the construction of North Branch Pass Subdivision, Phase 3. Construction work to date has been reviewed and approved by the Engineer and appropriate County Departments.
• To sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Professional Services with the Miami County Juvenile/Probate Court and Forensic Evaluation Service Center of Fairfield for the provision of professional forensic evaluation and related services, as are consistent with current state and federal laws and regulations for $75,000. The MOU may be terminated by either party upon the provision of a thirty-day prior written notice of such termination.
• To acknowledge receipt of the Sheriff’s Monthly Expense Account for the period ending Sept. 30.
At the end of the meeting, the commissioners said they will present the State of the County at the Government Affairs Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 11 at the Tipp Center, located at 855 N. Third St. in Tipp City.
