City seeks proposals for metal detector

The city of Columbus is seeking proposals for a metal detector that will be installed at Columbus City Hall.

The Columbus Board of Works voted Tuesday to send out a request for proposals. Responses are due Oct. 11, said Director of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar.

The city is seeking proposals for a magnetometer, along with accompanying handheld devices, computers and electronic equipment.

“(Columbus Police Department Sgt.) Drake Maddix has led the charge for us on this,” said Brinegar. “We had a team that’s gone around and visited a few sites to get us some insights into the best and most up-to-date equipment we could look for. And so the descriptions of what we’re asking for will meet those guidelines.”

Officials have said in the past that the metal detector will be stationed at city hall’s rear entrance. It is part of a larger project that also includes the installation of security cameras at city hall and the Evolution Training Center.

The board of works approved a bid from ERS Wireless earlier this summer for the purchase and installation of these cameras. The company’s proposal came with a total price of $153,971.35.

The city received a $126,322 grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to help fund the security upgrades. Columbus City Council voted in July to appropriate an additional $125,000 from the city’s general fund for the project.