Fiscal Court tables action on jail boiler

Published 11:26 am Thursday, March 9, 2017

With a 45-day clock ticking to replace a failing boiler at the Clark County Detention Center, the Clark County Fiscal Court set a special meeting Friday morning to vote on a bid for the project.

During the court’s meeting Feb. 22, Jailer Frank Doyle told the magistrates the state boiler inspector approved a temporary patch following a failure, but gave the county 45 days to replace the boiler.

The court reviewed four bids for the project during Wednesday’s regular meeting, but decided to seek further information from bidders before awarding a contract for the project. The top two bids were more than $200,000, and another would only replace the boiler, instead of the entire system, and could take up to 11 weeks to install.

Email newsletter signup

“It looks like we’re comparing apples to oranges,” Magistrate Daniel Konstantopoulos said.

Clark County Attorney Brian Thomas said the magistrates could request itemized information, as requested by Magistrate Greg Elkins, without rejecting the bids and starting over.

A special meeting was set for 8 a.m. Friday to discuss the matter further.

“It needs to be fixed,” Magistrate Pam Blackburn said.

Konstantopoulos also wanted information on how the county would pay for the project.

“I don’t want to make a decision without knowing how we’re going to pay for it,” he said.

Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said previously he would contact the Kentucky Association of Counties about a lease or financing for the project. Branham was sick and was not at Wednesday’s meeting.

Blackburn suggested using the county’s “rainy day” fund, but no action was taken.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

email author More by Fred