County seeks 160 kW generator to maintain jail power until grant project completes

County staff told the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 6 that the sheriff’s office emergency power system has been degrading and that staff identified a commercially available 160-kilowatt generator for $119,000 to maintain full operations until a larger Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project is completed.

According to staff, the generator procurement process for the larger grant-funded project is lengthy — contractors have warned of lead times up to 60 weeks — and the county’s current backup sources include a federal unit that could be reassigned. The county’s contractor told staff the new generator could be delivered significantly sooner and would eliminate recurring emergency repairs and reliance on the federal unit.

Staff said funds for the $119,000 purchase are available in the current fiscal-year budget and recommended buying the generator, noting it would also become a county asset for future use. Commissioners asked clarifying questions; no formal vote was recorded on the workshop agenda. Staff said they would proceed with procurement subject to the board’s future formal action (if required by procurement rules) and would coordinate final contract signatures through the chair or county manager.