Vernon board approves kitchen-equipment contract, fire-pump replacement and multiple services; Glen Meadow window bids rejected

The Vernon Township Board of Education approved a package of capital and service contracts and several design changes during its Feb. 20 public meeting, including a nearly $943,000 award for kitchen equipment and a $178,000 replacement of a high-school fire pump the district said had reached the end of its useful life.

The board voted to award a contract for kitchen-equipment replacement at multiple schools to Walcott Group, Inc., accepting the base bid and certain alternates for a total award of $942,737. The district also approved a proposal from Herring Fire Protection to replace the turbine fire pump at Vernon Township High School for $178,000. The agenda said the pump had failed routine testing and vendors declined to perform required testing because of corrosion; district staff said the replacement is needed so the pump can be tested and kept in compliance with the fire marshal’s requirements.

To pay for the high-school pump project, the board approved a reallocation of funds in the amount of $191,465, transferring money from the Rolling Hills School fire-alarm replacement project to the high-school fire-pump replacement. Staff explained the long-range facilities plan already includes the high-school project; because it is listed in the long-range plan, the…