Armloads of book-sized bids and maps were opened during Thursday’s Newton County Commissioners meeting.
The GIS mapping and publication bids came in as follows: Marceline Mapping of Lathrop, Mo., $185,850 without web publication and $200,850 with Web publication; Great River Engineering, Springfield at $138,359; VillaGIS, Inc., Hollister, Mo., $80,600; Midland GIS Solutions $211,500; and The Sidwell Company, St. Charles, Ill. $167,505 and $2.25 a plot.
Commissioner Jerry Carter said he was pleased with the bid response.
GIS bids were sent to the assessor’s office for technical review, analysis and recommendations. Assessor Gloria Gourley asked for two weeks to review the documents before a decision is made.
In other business, a grant application for 911-dispatch to update its phone system was forwarded to the state in the amount of $308,000. Parts are no longer manufactured for the 14-year-old analog system. The new system will be IP (Internet protocol) capable and have a more powerful battery backup. The county expects to hear back about the grant by the end of September.
Additionally, the new dispatch antenna will be located between the armory and a nearby storage building. The 130-foot tower will replace the tower on top of the courthouse. The project became a high priority when a June storm toppled one of the courthouse towers.
Eventually, there will be three locations to help reduce radio interference in the signal: the armory location, the sheriff’s office and a third location which has yet to be decided.
Commissioners are still accepting architect proposals for the 911-armory building.
Commissioners also voted to support the county remonumentation program which was cut from state budgets. The $4,500 program budget will be allocated from county funds. See story on this page for more information on the program.
