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County OKs up-to-$14,000 for McKinley health department furniture
Summary
The finance committee approved a not-to-exceed $14,000 budget to furnish the McKinley site of the Boone County Health Department, directing staff to prioritize repurposed and donated items and to seek lower-cost chair options where possible.
Boone County’s finance committee on Thursday approved up to $14,000 to outfit the McKinley location of the Boone County Health Department with office and client-facing furniture. The committee voted on a motion to set a $14,000 “not to exceed” figure and authorized health department staff to work with vendors to keep spending below that cap.
The spending authorization matters because the McKinley location will house the county’s new CORE program and several health department employees who have been working remotely or in temporary spaces. Committee members said it was important the new space look professional and be functional for staff and clients.
Amanda Mayo, with the Boone County Health Department, told the committee the quotes included in the board packet were preliminary and that the department had been seeking used, donated and matched pieces to keep costs down. "If we can come in under a reasonable amount, we will," Mayo said, describing efforts to repurpose furniture from Logan Avenue and to match existing pieces so the space appears cohesive. Adam Hartsell, CORE program manager, said seven staff members will be based at McKinley most consistently and that furniture is needed to make the environment welcoming for clients.
Mayo presented multiple vendor quotes and told the board the simple average of the bids was about $13,500. Committee members pushed staff to negotiate lower-cost alternatives for specific high-ticket items — most notably conference and desk chairs — and to prefer matching repurposed pieces where practical. "I think there's a way to fill that and not just this department… it should all look professional," County Board member Ryan Curry said. Several board members urged against a patchwork of donated items and supported buying a consistent, professional look.
Board members and staff discussed delivery and setup timing; vendors told the committee that much of the quoted inventory is available for quick turnaround and could be ready by next week if approved. Mayo said some items listed were already in use at temporary locations (including donated furniture on loan from Midland States Bank) and therefore not immediately available for transfer to McKinley.
Carl Johnson moved the motion to set the not-to-exceed amount at $14,000; Marion Thornberry seconded the motion. The committee conducted a roll-call vote; recorded votes announced from the dais were in the affirmative and the motion carried. After the vote, members reiterated that staff should negotiate unit prices (especially for chairs) and use donated or repurposed items where feasible to keep actual spending below the authorized cap.
The committee’s action authorizes procurement up to the stated limit; staff said they will return to the board if the department needs to exceed the authorized amount or to incorporate a materially different vendor proposal.
The McKinley furniture authorization was one of several budget items discussed at the meeting, which included department-by-department budget reviews and capital requests across the county.
The committee approved the furniture authorization by roll call; staff will proceed with ordering and coordinating delivery within the $14,000 cap and return to the committee if the department cannot meet its needs within that amount.
