Commissioners release cleaning-services RFP, approve elevator repair and table volunteer fire department Act 13 request

Cameron County Commissioners approved several procedural and procurement actions during their regular meeting. They voted to release a request for proposals for county cleaning services, accepted a contractor quote for elevator repair, and tabled an Act 13 funding request from a volunteer fire department for later review.

The board moved to release the cleaning-services RFP to the public; proposals were set to be due Feb. 19 to allow discussion at the last February meeting. Commissioner 1 moved to approve release and Commissioner 2 seconded; the chair put the question and the motion passed by voice vote.

The commissioners then considered a $73,367 quote from Eastern Elevator to install a car-top exhaust fan in the courthouse elevator. Commissioners discussed whether in-house maintenance could perform the work for a lower cost, but several raised concerns that doing the installation outside a licensed elevator contractor could create warranty and liability issues. Commissioner 2 said the long-term costs and warranty risks favored hiring the contractor; the board approved the Eastern Elevator quote by voice vote.

The board also acknowledged an Act 13 block-grant request from a volunteer fire department for rescue equipment — described in the meeting as including a rescue stretcher, chainsaw, pagers, radios and helmets — with an amount reported as $9,218.42. Commissioners moved to table final approval until the first-quarter Act 13 review meeting on April 2.

All three items were handled as motions on the floor and decided by voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 11:28 a.m.; the next meeting was scheduled for Feb. 5 at 11 a.m.