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Murray County commissioners approve $2.5M State Aid advance, award horticulture remodel bid and OK accessibility signs in parks
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Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting the Murray County Board approved a $2.5 million County State Aid funds advance for 2026 projects, awarded a horticulture building remodel bid above budget, approved several public-safety and IT purchases and authorized installation of Silent Spectrum communication boards in county parks.
The Murray County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 approved a package of allocations, contracts and purchases intended to maintain county infrastructure and expand services.
Key actions included authorizing a County State Aid Highway funds advance of $2,500,000 to combine and accelerate 2026 construction projects; awarding the horticulture building addition and remodel contract to Joe Schreier Construction for $296,510 (the low of two bids, both over the $235,000 budget); approving a Murray Soil & Water Conservation District quarterly allocation of $49,069.75; and approving several county purchases and service agreements.
The board also approved changes to public-safety and emergency communications: purchase of a Heartland Security mobile cellular panic‑button system (one-time equipment cost $1,550 plus $33.95 monthly) for county facilities and replacement of the county's CodeRED system with the HyperReach alerting platform (staff estimated about $4,800 in annual savings and IPAWS compliance). The county approved PC and laptop replacements through Dell for $36,269.81 and authorized a cloud-hosted Elevate UC phone system from Loffler to replace an aging, unsupportable phone system; staff said the phone system change would reduce recurring costs by roughly $500–$600 per month.
Intergovernmental and operational items included approving city law-enforcement support contracts (Avoca, Chandler, Currie, Dovray, Hadley, Iona and Lake Wilson) charged at $10 per resident, authorizing the Board to attend a Monogram Foods tour in Chandler on Feb. 19, denying all bids for the Motor Pool Garage project, and approving final payment of $111,268.50 to Central Specialties, Inc. for 2025 overlay retainage release. The board also recommended approval of a Des Moines River Watershed Partnership 50% cost-share for sealing an unused well for Theodore Wand (estimated well sealing costs roughly $1,800; the recommendation forwards payment upon completion from FY23–25 watershed funds).
Dareth (Nelson) Ross of Silent Spectrum requested and the board approved installation of communication boards in Murray County parks to assist semi- or non‑verbal users; Silent Spectrum will print graphics (via B&K Design locally) and install and maintain the boards.
Most motions passed by voice or motion vote. When formal tallies were recorded, they were noted in the minutes (for example, the drainage authority roll call on JD 27 recorded five yeas and zero nays). The meeting concluded with committee reports and adjournment at about 11:40 a.m.