Morrow County commissioners approve routine minutes, hold airport lighting bids and authorize CourtView software purchase

Morrow County Board of Commissioners met March 10 and approved routine business including the minutes of the March 10 regular session and a set of grouped bills. Speaker 1 presented the minutes and Speaker 2 moved approval; the board recorded affirmative roll-call responses.

The commissioners reviewed financial items and transfers, including a transfer into the sheriff’s fund that had earlier been tabled pending additional information. After further discussion Speaker 1 took the transfer off the table and the board approved the transfer into the sheriff’s levy account.

The board opened sealed bids for runway lighting at the county airport. Speaker 1 read the base bids aloud: Kobo Utility Construction Corp., $317,262.50; Perham Illustrates Inc., $262,286.25; Jay Rank Electric, $391,412.50; and Howard Electric, $219,389. Following the opening the board voted to hold the bids for review by the airport authority.

Speaker 1 presented a vendor quote from Equivant for CourtView software for the county municipal court with an estimated one-time cost of $270,313. Discussion noted a difference between the total quote and the amount requested in the vendor’s letter and that recurring fees would be handled separately. The board approved the purchase and moved to appropriate $270,313 from unappropriated funds into capital improvement/equipment accounts for the project.

Separately, Speaker 5 announced the county dog warden position will be posted for part-time (20 hours/week) applicants and that the posting will appear on the county website and Indeed. Speaker 5 also reported that a private-road sewer line project is nearing completion and that plumbing and fire-suppression testing should begin soon, with an anticipated completion target around April.

Speaker 3 reported that Franklin Township trustees intend to place county zoning back on the fall ballot and will submit paperwork to allow time for required meetings. Speaker 5 described a recent meeting with the senior center about building space and parking; the center invited county staff to present a "lunch and learn" for residents.

The meeting recessed and later returned to regular session; the board adjourned by unanimous vote later in the agenda.

Votes at a glance: minutes and grouped bills—approved by roll call; transfer into sheriff’s fund—approved after being taken off the table; bids for runway lighting—bids opened and held for airport review; Equivant CourtView quote—approved and $270,313 appropriated to capital equipment.