Budget committee recommends adoption of copier, trash, electrical and GIS contracts; softball umpire sole-source held

Jackson County Budget Committee Chair Charlie Franklin presided over a meeting that resulted in recommendations to adopt four term-and-supply contracts and a decision to hold one sole-source contract for additional review.

The committee recommended adoption of resolution 21959, a 60-month term-and-supply contract to lease copiers from Toshiba America Business Solutions, Inc., under Omnia Partners Region 4 contract R241204. Caleb Clifford of the County Executive—s Office said the contract was recommended by Purchasing and that the Omnia Partners process was competitive; committee members moved and voted to recommend adoption.

The committee also recommended adoption of resolution 21961, a 24-month term-and-supply contract with two 12-month options for trash removal services to Waste Management of Kansas City under invitation to bid 24096. Clifford said the county ran a solicitation, received and scored responses, and Purchasing recommended award to Waste Management.

Resolution 21962, a 12-month term-and-supply contract with three 12-month renewal options for electrical supplies to Graybar Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri, was recommended for adoption. Clifford said the award relies on an existing competitively bid City of Kansas City contract (EV2370) and provides lower rates for county electricians who need supplies.

Resolution 21963, a 12-month term-and-supply contract with two 12-month options for GIS software maintenance and licenses to Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) of Redlands, California, was recommended for adoption as a sole-source purchase. Mike Erickson, director of Information Technology, and Richard Buford, GIS program manager, said Esri is the county—s longstanding mapping platform used for parcel mapping and other enterprise applications; the enterprise agreement was budgeted at about $210,000 for the year and staff said an upgraded enterprise license would add functionality including 3D mapping and additional professional services and training.

Each of the four recommendations carried after members moved, seconded and voiced their approval. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; votes were taken by voice.

Separately, the committee held resolution 21960, a proposed 12-month contract (with three 12-month options) for softball umpire services with the Eastern Jackson County USSSA Empire Association as a sole-source purchase. Sarah Gold, superintendent of recreation for the Parks and Recreation Department, said the county has worked with the association for 24 years, that the association provides USSSA-sanctioned slow-pitch umpires and that the expected 2025 spend is $82,000 (2024: $72,000). A committee member questioned the sole-source designation and whether other umpire associations had been given an opportunity; staff said past bids produced zero or a single bid that could supply the necessary quantity of umpires. After discussion a member moved to hold the item and the motion carried.

Chair Franklin closed the meeting after finishing committee business.