Cole County commissioners approve grants and agreements, reject towing RFP and ratify emergency rail repair

Cole County commissioners on Oct. 14 approved multiple routine measures — from grant submissions to interagency training agreements — and ratified an emergency rail-spur repair, while rejecting a towing-and-storage request for proposals that drew only one vendor.

County staff told the commission they had submitted an electronic application to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Grant program for SWAT communications equipment and that the request is for about $38,845. "This is for SWAT equipment. This is for SWAT equipment. It's about $38,000. A little over $38,845," said County staff during the meeting. Commissioners voted to authorize submission of the application.

The commission approved signing MDFB tax credit disbursement request number 4 for the United Capital City Soccer Club; the motion to approve and sign the disbursement form passed unanimously. Separately, the clerk noted a HAVA election grant for $12,587; that item will return to the board in 10 days for action.

On procurement, staff reported that only one vendor replied to RFP 2025-29 for towing and storage of motor vehicles and recommended rejecting the bid and reissuing the RFP to solicit more competitive pricing. Commissioners voted to reject RFP 2025-29 and directed staff to rerun the solicitation.

The commission also ratified an emergency procurement for repairs to the Veil spur rail track. County staff reported that Capitol Railroad mobilized crews after a September inspection triggered an immediate safety closure; Union Pacific flagging delays required an additional visit to complete the work. The final cost for the repairs was $16,917.93, which the commission voted to ratify and authorized staff to sign the contractor proposal and invoice for documentation.

Assessor Tom presented three schedules — occupancy additions, a natural-disaster adjustment for one July house destroyed by fire, and value-adjustment requests that rolled back incorrect post-2023 values — and recommended the schedules be approved. Commissioners approved the occupancy, natural-disaster, and change-in-value adjustments as presented.

After discussion about rail maintenance, staff said they plan to solicit on-call bids for routine inspection and maintenance to reduce emergency repairs in the future and will study appropriate funding sources, including sales-tax accounting lines. County staff said the goal is for rail operations to ultimately support their own maintenance costs.

The commission returned to open session late in the meeting and approved an EMT clinical agreement with Lincoln University that allows Lincoln EMT students to perform clinicals on county ambulances at no cost to the county. Commissioners also approved county EMS participation in a Public Safety Explorer Post hosted by Lincoln University for 14–21 year-olds; staff said Lincoln would serve as the sponsoring host agency and that participation primarily requires staff time.

Votes at a glance: - MDFB tax credit disbursement request #4 (United Capital City Soccer Club): motion approved (unanimous). - Firehouse Subs Public Safety Grant (electronic submission for SWAT communications equipment, ~$38,845): motion to authorize submission approved (unanimous). - RFP 2025-29 (towing and storage of motor vehicles): motion to reject the single bid and reissue the RFP approved (unanimous). - Ratify emergency procurement for Veil spur rail repairs (final cost $16,917.93): motion to ratify approved (unanimous). - Assessor schedules (occupancy, natural disaster adjustment, change-in-value requests): motion approved (unanimous). - EMT clinical agreement with Lincoln University (MOU): motion approved (unanimous). - EMS participation in Public Safety Explorer Post hosted by Lincoln University: motion approved (unanimous).

No commissioner opposed the recorded actions taken on Oct. 14. Several agenda items — including the HAVA grant for $12,587 and questions about longer-term rail funding sources — were left for staff follow-up.