Greer updates commissioner on jail projects

The Marshall County Commissioners approved a proposal to cover the original windows above the Dispatch Center in the lobby of the Marshall County Jail. 

Last week, John Greer, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds for the Jail, presented a proposal to close off and seal the non-functional and leaky windows. He reminded the commissioners that a drop ceiling was installed several years ago when heating the area became an issue. 

The leaking issue with the windows would require the county to remove them, reflash, reseal, and reinstall or cover them with a 2-inch insulation board and metal. Greer said there are 190 feet of existing windows to cover, and under the windows, there’s a 260-foot portion that is covered in panels. One of the panels blew off because the fasteners were too small, so $5,700 of the proposal is to fasten those panels to the building correctly.    

K Graber’s proposal was for $21,440. Based on time and materials, the proposal was the worst-case scenario. Greer said K Graber also worked at the county’s maintenance building on North Plum Street.

Commissioner Mike Burroughs asked if the sheriff was aware of the proposal, and Greer said he was. Initially, they planned the work for next year, but there is funding in the budget this year, so they want to move forward this fall and complete the work.    

The contract requires 10% down with a signed agreement, and 50% will be due when the materials are delivered.

Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said they’ve been addressing these issues for years.  He motioned to approve the proposal with K Graber from Amboy, IN, in the amount of $21,440, with the required 10% at the signing of the contract as a pre-pay and the 50% pre-pay for the materials when they are delivered.

Greer also updated the commissioners on the Fabcon Precast work to be completed on the jail's exterior. The company keeps saying they will be here in two weeks but haven’t shown up yet. He said they would be pulling a crew from Ohio or Michigan. They are swamped with work and now say they will pull a crew from Minnesota, and they should be at the jail any day.