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Coroner requests cooler and autopsy table funding; commissioners and council to coordinate payment
Summary
Randolph County Coroner Darren James presented competing quotes for cold storage and an autopsy table and recommended a lower‑cost modular cooler solution; commissioners agreed the council will handle equipment funding and asked the coroner to present finalized quotes at the council meeting.
Randolph County Coroner Darren James told commissioners the county’s buildout for the new medical‑examiner space requires immediate equipment purchases and presented competing quotes.
Darren James said a Mopac four‑person cooler with lift was quoted at about $84,825, while a North Tennessee supplier offered modular two‑ and three‑tier coolers that together would provide six‑body capacity and an estimated equipment package at roughly $34,990 plus an autopsy table priced about $26,950. “I’m not saying the Mopac cooler’s not top of the line… but I don’t see why to spend that much money when we’re really not getting the six person that we needed,” James said, explaining the value of redundancy in standalone units.
Commissioners clarified that the building construction funding came from the council but equipment purchases must be approved by the council; they encouraged James to provide final quotes for council consideration at the Wednesday council meeting so purchases can be authorized promptly to avoid construction delays. Staff and commissioners also discussed lift and autopsy table lead times and the risk that overseas equipment delays could postpone contractor schedules.
Next steps: Coroner will provide finalized quotes and specifications to the council; commissioners and council members said they are prepared to fund the equipment if the council approves it at its upcoming meeting.
