Up-and-down elevator project gets another chance

After one false start, Wayne County’s commissioners will take another crack at putting a new elevator inside the county courthouse.

The project went out for bid previously, but commissioners rejected the $1,040,000 bid from Thor Construction that exceeded estimates and did not include removing an existing flue in an existing shaft where the elevator would go. Since then, two to three feet of debris from the bottom of the shaft was removed, providing a clearer picture of what work will be necessary, said Kevin McCurdy of LWC Inc. during the commissioners’ June 25 meeting.

McCurdy now recommends three related projects be bid separately to install the elevator on the south side of the courthouse atrium. One involves removal of the war monument on the courthouse’s second floor and its installation on the staircase landing between the second and third floors. The second project removes the large steel flue from the shaft and creates openings for the elevator doors in the process, and the third installs the new elevator.

McCurdy expects the separation of projects to attract more interest from contractors preferring involvement in just one aspect of the overall project, and the county will have more flexibility and control during the execution. LWC is revising bid documents, and McCurdy said the projects could be advertised for bids during the week of July 7.

Commissioners approved an additional $22,750 to LWC’s contract because of the additional work.

McCurdy also presented estimates for a security screen for the HVAC equipment visible behind an arch on the courthouse’s west side. The project also includes replacing the cracked concrete drive used to take jail inmates into the courthouse through the west-side door.

The estimate is $156,000 for the screen and current driveway configuration, plus another $100,000 to make the driveway a circle drive. As it is, the driveway presents a challenge for turning around jail transport vans.

Commissioners Brad Dwenger and Aaron Roberts indicated they prefer the circle drive option, but no decisions were made.

Policies pass

Three new policies were adopted by commissioners with 3-0 votes.

Commissioners have worked on fleet safety and key card policies, and Craig Eason, the county’s IT director, presented a policy about IT having remote access at all times to all county computers.

The fleet safety policy includes maintaining a list of acceptable drivers for county vehicles and for personal vehicles on county business. Those drivers will have their licenses and insurance checked. The policy was initiated to satisfy Travelers Insurance, the county’s liability insurance provider.

The county continues installing a proximity card lock system. County employees needing access to locked external doors during business hours or after hours will receive prox cards that also serve as identification cards. Other employees not needing door access will receive ID cards.

The card policy includes a $10 replacement fee for lost cards.

Eason said it’s critical for network security that IT have remote access to immediately handle threatening situations. He said attacks on networks continue getting worse and timing is everything when fighting those attacks.

Other issues

• Commissioner Jeff Plasterer said the county’s May invoice from HELP the Animals was $5,600 after the county animal control officer placed 18 dogs and six cats with the shelter. He said he would work with the Wayne County Foundation to finalize financial support of HELP’s planned project to fix old kennels and add new kennels.
• Commissioners voted 3-0 to provide $1,000 this year to Safety Village of Wayne County. They opted for annual consideration of support rather than committing to five years.
• A bid from Kelley Automotive in Fort Wayne to provide five Chevrolet Tahoes for the sheriff’s department was approved 3-0. The $269,550 bid was the only bid received.
• Commissioners approved 3-0 a contract with Quality Correctional Care to provide health care for jail inmates. The three-year contract that runs from May to April each year will cost $977,571.51 the first year, $1,016,674.37 the second year and $1,057,341.35 the third year.
• Following the previous week’s discussion about insurance, commissioners approved their new casualty policy with Travelers at a 5.49% premium increase of $45,733. They also delayed making any decisions about options associated with the health insurance program. Open enrollment does not occur until fall.
• Mike Sharp, the county’s highway supervisor, received commissioner approval to purchase a used Gradall Series 5 with 1,312 service hours from a rental company in Texas for $315,500 plus a $5,000 delivery charge. The purchase was in the 2025 capital plan, but Sharp must now approach Wayne County Council to fund an additional $150,000.