Commission approves $255,443 supplemental and awards $Proactive Elevator contract after split vote

County staff presented a request to supplement the 2026 capital budget by $255,443 to complete modernization of two elevators at the county jail, bringing total project cost to about $455,443. Facilities and sheriff's office staff described persistent reliability problems with aging proprietary elevator components (original equipment circa 1999 2001) and said both elevators are heavy‑use (24/7) systems that have experienced long outages and expensive temporary repairs.

Chair raised concerns about budget priorities and suggested doing only one elevator now and returning for the second if the state forces compliance, noting the county has frozen positions and other capital constraints. "I don't wanna do you guys $200,000 budgeted. I don't wanna go for another $250,000," the chair said, urging caution on the supplement and preferring a smaller, targeted request. Other commissioners argued a single failure of the second elevator would create safety and operational crises for jail operations and inmate movement.

After deliberation the board approved the supplemental capital request by a 2–1 vote. Following that vote, the board considered award of the RFP for a turnkey modernization and awarded the contract to Proactive Elevator Services LLC (the only fully turnkey bidder) and authorized the chair to sign the contract.

Board members requested that staff track alternatives and the option of phasing work if possible, and noted costs for splitting the project could be higher because of duplicated mobilization/electrical/fire system work. Staff will return with updated procurement and implementation schedules and will track impacts on frozen position savings and other capital items.

Actions recorded: the budget supplement approved (tally 2 yes, 1 no); contract award to Proactive Elevator Services LLC approved by majority.