City staff report emergency sprinkler replacement at police server room; procurement threshold change eases contracting

City staff briefed Franklin City’s board on May 12 about an urgent facility repair: the fire sprinkler system protecting the police department’s server room and dispatch center is not functioning and needs replacement.

Highway superintendent Kevin Schler told the board the situation: "their sprinkler system for the rooms is shut off. It's not working." Staff said the broken system leaves the server and dispatch spaces at risk and that one vendor quote has been received while two more are expected.

City engineer Mike Wallace told members he had spoken with the finance director before the meeting and that the finance office confirmed the recent change in the noncompetitive procurement threshold. "That limit was always $25,000... they raised it 50," Wallace said, with staff characterizing the change as a state statute adjustment. Staff said this means the project—estimated at about $47,000—may be handled without a formal public bid process under the higher threshold, but staff will obtain final confirmation and the remaining quotes.

Board members asked for more technical and procurement details. Facilities superintendent Jo (not present) had been expected to attend; staff said they will retrieve missing technical details from Jo and report back. No temporary suppression or other measures were described at the meeting.

Because staff presented the item as informational and the procurement threshold recently changed, no formal action was taken at the May 12 meeting. Staff said they will return with the remaining quotes, technical details about the failure, and any recommended contracting steps.