Simpson County’s Board of Supervisors is working with the Election Commission to get equipment in order for elections.
The Election Commission received two bids for new machines needed in order to conduct elections. The lower bid by a long shot was Voting Works, bidding at $120,272. The second company, ES&S, bid $188,364, over one-third higher.
However, Voting Works has no service center in the state and is actually located in California. This means no technician is available in the event of a breakdown. Additionally the company is not certified and listed references for business not testimonials per the bid request.
The county opted to take the higher bid for the services and certification required in the bid.
The board accepted a bid for a back up generator for the chancery building at $1,879.79 from JJ Merchant. It was the only bid.
County Road Manager Ben Warren was authorized by the board to acquire two pole trailers for less than $5,000 for the two to haul culverts. He said it is unsafe to haul them in dump trucks and that he trailers would be much safer.
Supervisor Mitchell Chatman asked that Emergency Management Coordinator John Kilpatrick, look into some complaints he had on delayed response time and qualified technicians on call with ASAP Ambulance Service. Kilpatrick said he would do so and report back to Chapman.
The board was to close a contract with ABM Contracting for a 20-year service period for physical plant savings on utilities and water.
The county is planning for improvements to the Trustee Dormitory at the jail. Preliminary costs associated with the project will be $4,500. Engineering costs for the renovation project are expected to be $35,000 to the same company that built the current jail. Funding for construction will come through federal sources for associated infrastructure improvement associated with the pandemic.
Board Attorney Danny Welch notified the board of the possibility of an opioid settlement and documentation needed in order to qualify for part of the proceeds as part of a Memorandum of Understanding.
The board approved dispersing funds from County Fire Insurance Rebate Code Enforcement for $117,984.90 with all departments as well as $3,396 to all departments.
The board was invited to attend a Council of Governments meeting held on November 16, which was followed by a meeting of the Simpson County Development Foundation on completing an updated comprehensive land use plan for the county. The board will hear for the committee on December 7 and then determine how they would like to proceed.
The Simpson County Solid Waste Department will not pick up trash on Thursday of this week, Thanksgiving. For the week of Christmas they will pick up trash daily except for Friday, which is Christmas Eve.
