04/26/11 Monday evening city department heads informed the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety of the activities in their departments.
Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt asked for board approval to seek quotes to replace the 15 year old John Deere mower/snowplow that is use in the downtown area. The equipment is in the 2011 budget. The board approved the request.
Marquardt also talked about the state salt bid. This is the third year that the city has participated in the state bid process. In 2008 the city contracted for 1,200 tons of salt at $59.31 a ton. In 2009 Marquardt ordered another 1,200 tons at a price of $64.67 a ton. In 2010 he increased the buy to 1,500 tons at $52.50 a ton. The bid requires you purchase at least 80% of your bid amount but you do have an option to obtain up to 120% if necessary. Jim also said they purchased some beet juice and used some of it. He said he will consider purchasing additional juice if the budget allows. He also said that he has quite a bit of sand left for this winter.
According to the State, over the past two seasons the statewide total of savings is $9 million. Marquardt explained that cities, counties and schools also share in the savings.
Keith Hammonds, the City Building Inspector discussed the access control project at the fire house. There was $14,000 budgeted for the security project and all three bids received earlier were above the estimated budget. The Board of Public Works and Safety formally rejected the bids received. The board accepted the new specifications presented Monday night and asked to have the project re-bid.
Plymouth Fire Chief Andy Metsker gave the board an update on the 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The $771,000 received for all the fire department in the county has nearly all been spent on radios, radio equipment and vehicular repeaters for the various fire trucks in the county. The City of Plymouth received grant money in the amount of $112,000 and the city’s matching share was $11,000.
Chief Metsker said they are proceeding with the installation of the computer aided dispatching in the first two ambulances and engines that are dispatched. He said the Township Trustees are also on board for their trucks. Metsker said the system will provide responding vehicle with maps pin-pointing the location of the incident. It also allows for reduced radio traffic with a push button dispatch and on-scene notification to the County’s 9-1-1 Center.
A National Level Exercise is scheduled for May 17, 18, and 19 in southern Indiana for emergency services. The City’s participation is limited but the district will be doing some work. He said, “We are looking outside and dealing with other department on resources that may be needed or available.
