Pool construction bid could come by August
News July 18, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Among several bid and contract agenda items in July, the BOC heard an update that the engineering is completed and they could call for bids on the county pool by August.
As the county is ready to bid, they currently have the documentation with County Attorney David Clark who said that he has some final touches to do but the county should be able to move forward in the bid process on or close to Wednesday, July 27, 2022.
Clark also informed the Board of Commissioners that the bids will go out in several different sites both locally and statewide including the state procurement website and utilizing the architect to help solicit contractors in addition to the county’s efforts.
The commissioners have previously made statements aiming for Memorial Day 2023 as opening day for the new pool. Also, the BOC’s October Budget Sessions will reveal more about the pool’s future as the board discusses additional upgrades, buildings, the future rec-center, and funding or savings for those potential projects and if they will happen in the coming year.
In addition to the pool, the county also dealt with bids on HVAC and facilities in the July session. The county approved to collect quotes for the Jail air system and the Learning Center but then bid out other systems that needed repair. With changes since the last bid process, the bids came in higher than expected as the county is incorporating them into a computer control system. The county avoided a bid do to requests for pre-payment and went with a slightly higher base price bid. The approved bid was for QT Contracting for $785,777.
The Jail system is still looking for a second quote and the Learning Center was approved for a quote just under $20,000.
County issues emergency need to replace HVAC systems
News June 28, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Three units in the Gilmer Detention Center and another unit at the learning center connected to the Health Department have failed with no possibility of repairs for these systems.
Gilmer’s BOC has previously bid out HVAC systems to fulfill needs amongst the courthouse and other facilities. However, they rejected the bid they received at the time. Now, the board is returning to readdress the issue as these new system failures have occurred.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlie Paris said, “What I would like to do would be to make a motion that we deem this to be an emergency situation and find somebody, get a couple quotes, and get it done as quickly as we can because we are about to head into July and we can’t have these folks in 100 degree buildings.”
Paris also noted that the learning center system is at least 33 years old. Similar to many of the systems in the courthouse, these older systems are reaching the end of their lifespans. The courthouse has been suffering system failures that have caused some offices to begin closing early, but has since repaired them to working order. The county will still continue seeking the bid to repair those but will not add them into the emergency order.
Done in a special meeting in June 2022, the Board of Commissioners will be putting out the order for replacements ahead of the main bid, which is being advertised now. Additionally, the board noted that while two of the systems in the detention constitute the emergency, they are going to go ahead with the extra system in that facility instead of going through two different contracts and costing the county more in the long run.
The county’s July agenda should return to the normal process for the remaining systems.