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Covington County approves purchase of prefabricated steel building, directs tax-exemption confirmation
Summary
The commission authorized purchase of a prefabricated steel building previously approved at $142,556, with legal staff warning the county will assume vendor responsibilities if it becomes the direct purchaser; commissioners directed staff to secure the county sales-tax-exemption and to bid erection work to licensed contractors.
The Covington County Commission voted to purchase a prefabricated steel building previously approved for the engineering department, with commissioners instructing staff to ensure the vendor accepts the county's sales-tax-exemption and to advertise for a licensed general contractor to erect the building.
County legal/staff (Unidentified Speaker 6) told the commission that if the county enters a direct contract with the fabricator it will assume warranty obligations and other responsibilities typically carried by a vendor. Staff flagged that the vendor had not accepted the county's sales-tax-exemption certificate and recommended that any purchase be conditioned on the vendor applying the exemption to lower the contract price.
The commission discussed the project cost, citing an approved amount of $142,556 in prior action, and confirmed that the engineer's department needs the building and has prepared the pad. Commissioners agreed that erection of the building is public works that will require solicitation of bids for a licensed contractor. One commissioner summarized the legal counsel's point as a caution to the board: "Buyer beware. If we sign this, that's ours."
A motion to purchase the building was made and seconded; the motion carried by voice vote. Commissioners directed staff to pursue the sales-tax-exemption with the vendor, to bring back any recommended contract language, and to put the erection work out for competitive bid.
