The city has selected a vendor for security cameras at Columbus City Hall and the Evolution Training Center.
The Columbus Board of Works approved a bid from ERS Wireless for the cameras, contingent on Columbus City Council approving an additional appropriation for the project.
ERS submitted a proposal with a total price of $153,971.35 in mid-June.
“This was a rebid because the initial one came in significantly over what our grant amount had been,” said City Director of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar.
The city’s initial request for proposals resulted in one proposal from Koorsen Fire and Security, which gave a base bid of $160,555. The board voted in early May to reject the company’s bid.
ERS’ proposal is still higher than the security grant the city received for the cameras and other security items. However, officials plan to request an additional appropriation to cover the remainder of the contract cost.
According to City Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon, the matter is expected to go before city council on Tuesday for a first reading. The appropriation will come out of the city’s general fund.
The security cameras will be funded, in part, by a $126,322 grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. City officials also plan on using the grant to purchase a metal detector for the back entrance to city hall.
Brinegar said that the following expenses were approved as part of the grant:
- $118,903 for security cameras
- $6,142 for magnetometer and hand-held devices
- $1,277 for IT set-up for metal detector monitoring
