Scott County staff told the fiscal court they received a single bid of $224,000 from Hinkle Construction for a tornado shelter on Lyle Road, exceeding earlier cost estimates. Procurement staff said they had hoped for a competitive field and that the original manufacturer, Safety Shelter, declined to bid because they had alternative opportunities. County staff asked the court to authorize competitive negotiation with the single bidder and to re‑advertise if necessary.

"Because the bid exceeded available funds, can I ask the court next Friday to authorize us to do competitive negotiation with the submitter?" one official asked; court members directed staff to pursue value‑engineering and to attempt to re‑solicit while engaging the original supplier.

Separately, EMS announced it will receive a $10,000 grant to install dash cameras in ambulances that monitor driver attention, seat‑belt use, speeding thresholds and allow for live alerts. EMS personnel said the cameras also can provide real‑time notifications to drivers via consumer navigation apps when an emergency vehicle is approaching.

Fire leadership displayed a new ladder truck already in county inventory that will replace an older model with limited parts availability; three new pumpers remain in production with an expected 36‑month lead time.

Why it matters: The tornado shelter procurement requires additional funding or negotiation to proceed; EMS dash cameras are a safety investment for responders and the public; the ladder truck is a capital replacement for aging apparatus.

Next steps: Staff will gather price‑reduction options with the shelter bidder and bring a competitive‑negotiation authorization to the court for action at the next meeting. EMS will proceed with grant administration for dash cameras and the fire department will continue vehicle outfitting.