County accepts multiple bids for pavilion work

    Progress continues on the new Pavilion and Education Center at the Phillips County Fairgrounds. At their Feb. 27 meeting, county commissioners reviewed their February activity.
    The board met in a special session Feb. 17 to open bids for erection of the new pavilion and for the concrete foundation work. Two bids were received for the erection of the building: $484,900 by Amendt Inc. and $299,985 by Maverick Steel Inc. Skarco Design submitted the only bid for the concrete foundation at $361,265.
    Once it was determined that the two low bidders met the pre-qualification requirements, the board accepted their bids and authorized signing contracts as soon as they’re prepared. In each case, the cost to the County will be the price of the bid plus the cost of bonds required by the state.
    Commissioners also reviewed two proposals for engineers to prepare the electrical plan for the pavilion from Belfay Engineering and Geary Engineering. Based on significantly lower fees, the board approved retaining Belfay Engineering for the design.
    The board also reviewed and accepted a bid from Black Hills Energy for providing natural gas service to the pavilion for $3,434.
    
VALE grant is less than expected
    Also in February, commissioners met with Sheriff Thom Elliott and victims’ advocate Kelley Sullivan. Sullivan reported that the first-quarter dispersion from the Victim Assistance and Law Enforcement grant will only be half of what was anticipated, dropping from $3,250 to $1,625 due to insufficient income at the state. The balance for the year may also be impacted.
    The Phillips County victims’ advocate position is funded primarily by grants.

Land exchanged
    The board recently approved two subdivision exemptions for properties west of the fairgrounds owned by Jack’s Bean Company and the County.
    Commissioners then approved a land exchange. The County acquired approximately 0.14 acres to allow a west access near the new pavilion. The county traded approximately 0.12 acres to Jack’s Bean, which will allow them better access to their Quonset on the west side of the fairgrounds.
    
Equipment sold
    The County recently sold the following pieces of equipment at a Big Iron auction:
    —2000 International 4700 truck, $14,560.
    —1998 International 4800 truck, $34,584.55.
    —John Deere snowblower, $546.
    —6-foot blade, $177.45.
    —John Deere 950 tractor, $5,364.45.
    
Other business
    In other business throughout the month of February, commissioners:
    —Offered FCCLA students Tyler Lamm, Josie Herman and Dominique Penzing use of the front lobby of the Human Services building as a potential site for their Blessing Box project. The students approached the commissioners seeking a location for their box for donations of food, clothing and paper products.
    —Approved contracting with North Line GIS for $5,280 to assist the Assessor’s Office in upgrading the mapping system.
    —Approved purchase of a new firewall for the County’s computer system. The firewall will be purchased from Platinum Technology for $14,354 and includes three years of support.
    —Held a public hearing and later adopted a supplemental budget for 2017 to cover unanticipated expenses in the capital expenditure fund, the junior livestock sale fund and the economic development fund.