Commissioners approve fire protection contract & vehicle purchase for Building & Grounds Dept.

Last week the County Commissioner approved continuing the Life Safety Systems Inspections and Testing with FE Moran, Inc.

The proposal for 2025 provides inspection and testing of the fire protection/suppression systems and components in the County Building, County Museum, and Courthouse.  The total cost is $6,800, which is the same as in 2024.

Building & Grounds Supervisor Billy Schoff said the cost for the courthouse is more because there is more in the building, and they have to climb up to the bell tower and inspect it too.  He said the cost is in his 2025 budget. 

Schoff also discussed the purchase of vehicles since the Building & Grounds Dept had a truck wrecked this winter. 

Commissioner Stan Klotz said he had a quote from Country Auto for $44,640 for a base Dodge pickup truck, ¾ ton, regular cab, with undercoating and 4-wheel drive.  Klotz wasn’t sure if there was a tow package on the truck.  The second quote was from Oliver Ford Lincoln for $46,433 plus $1,202 for undercoating, 360 dual strobe lights already mounted, 2 electrical outlets, and lifetime car washes.  The third bid was from Bozak out of Valparaiso for $45,496 with undercoating.

Commissioners discussed all three quotes and decided to go with the Oliver Ford quote because Schoff said the Dodge trucks he has in his department have been in and out of the shop a lot. The commissioners approved the Oliver Ford quote with the extra package.