Carroll County commissioners approve generator repairs, renew jail waste contract; decline MVC capital repurpose

Chairman Chuck McGee and two fellow commissioners voted June 29 to approve a change order to repair the underground electrical feeder from the Annex generator and to renew the jail’s waste disposal contract, while declining to reallocate Mountain View Community capital funds.

The panel voted 2-1 to accept a contractor’s reduced-cost change order of $47,673 for the Annex generator feeder work, approving the repairs but excluding repaving of the sawcut driveway; Vice-Chairman Harold B Parker cast the sole opposing vote. The change order was required after the contractor discovered the underground run used plastic sewer pipe rather than electrical conduit and that the feeder wiring dates to the late 1970s, creating code compliance and safety concerns.

Matthew C. Connors, president of Gemini Electric, described the condition in an April 6 letter included with the meeting packet: “The existing feeder is approximately 47 to 49 years old … it was installed in water & sewer pipe which is collapsing along with cable that was not rated for direct burial,” and provided a cost-reduction option that brought the proposed repair price to $47,673.

The generator work drew discussion about the necessity of running the generator connection into the Annex; Commissioners Chuck McGee and Gene Chandler supported the change order as presented (Chandler moved, McGee seconded), while Comm’r Parker questioned the connection’s need and opposed the motion.

Separately, the board unanimously approved a three-year waste-service agreement for the Carroll County Jail effective July 1, 2026, at a recurring monthly charge of $399. The contract packet supplied to the commissioners outlines service frequency, automatic renewal terms, permitted price increases and termination rights.

MVC Administrator Rich Leboeuf told the board the cost to convert the Mountain View Community’s television service from analog to digital would be $7,500 up front under a five-year agreement but can be absorbed in a seven-year contract with no up-front cost; the board approved the seven-year DirecTV renewal and authorized the administrator to sign (Chandler/Parker, 3-0).

Leboeuf also asked commissioners to repurpose capital funds — $43,450 budgeted for an irrigation system and $11,000 for a satellite rack — and to accelerate replacement of half the resident room furniture (previously scheduled for 2027). The board took no action on that request during the meeting.

The commissioners also voted 3-0 to release a set of previously held non-public session minutes listed in the packet and to approve routine items including prior meeting minutes and manifest totals for payroll and accounts payable.

During public comment, Fred Cain questioned the county’s past practice of legal contract review; the minutes record the question but show no immediate follow-up action.

The board signed the annual nursing home license application and noted a ribbon-cutting for a new laundry facility at the Mountain View Community scheduled for July 8 at 10 a.m. The meeting packet and supplemental documents (contract text and Gemini Electric’s letter) are part of the official record.