Redevelopment commission approves up to $31,000 for Tel City school security upgrades pending legal review

The Perry County Redevelopment Commission voted on March 23 to approve funding for security upgrades at two Tel City schools, contingent on legal review of the redevelopment/TIF plan.

Commissioner Tony told the board the request would focus on safety: “I would like to ask this board to only vote to fund our security upgrades for the two school buildings, forgoing the parking lot, forgoing the scoreboards,” he said, listing access control upgrades and hardening of vulnerable spaces as the priority.

Meeting materials included line items read aloud by staff. The presenters cited a figure of $17,237 for one school and read a second figure from the documents; the presenter summarized a combined cost as “roughly $31,000.” Commissioners asked whether the projects were included in the current economic development/TIF plan and were told the commission can amend the plan or verify authority before proceeding.

A motion was made to approve the two projects for security upgrades not to exceed $31,000, pending verification by the county attorney and RJL Solutions that the expenditure is legally authorized and procured properly; the motion was seconded and the commission voted to carry the motion. The board directed staff to ask the county attorney whether the proposed projects must be included in the redevelopment plan or whether the commission may approve them as presented and to verify bidding procedures.

The board also discussed procurement: staff said the contractor had been price‑checked and would send additional bid requests; members asked that multiple bids be obtained or verified before work begins. The item will return if the county attorney advises that an amendment or further action is required.