Allen County commissioners on June 13 approved a service agreement with Air Management Systems Inc. not to exceed $84,100 to install a dust-collection system and improve exhaust airflow in the county carpentry shop.

Vance Hernandez, director of facility maintenance, presented the contract and described the procurement. Because the project estimate was under the $150,000 threshold, staff solicited quotes from four vendors and received one responsive bid from Air Management. The vendor proposed a base price of $78,000 plus an optional shaker addition for $6,100, bringing the total to $84,100. "This service agreement is to install a dust collector and to improve airflow and the exhaust for our carpenter shop," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said the engineering firm MSKT previously produced design documents for the system and the vendor guaranteed the installation would meet the design. "MSKT did the design. We have the vendor. The vendor has guaranteed us that once they're proposed... it meets exactly what was intended," Hernandez said. He estimated work would begin in two to three weeks and the installation would take about three weeks.

A commissioner moved to approve the contract; the motion was seconded and carried. The action authorizes procurement and installation; staff indicated the dust collector will be placed in a corner of the shop with ducting run to saw tables and other workstations as shown on the project plans.