Commission approves $635K in bids including electric-pole relocation, ambulance equipment and courthouse storm-sewer work

The Sedgwick County Commission approved four awards recommended by the Board of Bids and Contracts on Sept. 17, including an electric pole relocation, ambulance equipment purchases, a Stryker power-load cot system and storm-sewer improvements at the main courthouse.

Purchasing Director Joe Thomas told the commission the recommended awards were: $246,987 to Sedgwick County Electric Cooperative Association for pole relocation; $226,900 under HGAC contract AEV-AM10-23 for ambulance vehicles with American Response Vehicles/American Emergency Vehicles; $88,139.14 to Howmedica Osteonics (d.b.a. Stryker Sales LLC) for a Stryker power-load system; and $73,500 to PSE Contractors LLC for storm-sewer improvements at the courthouse.

Commissioners asked staff why the county would bear the cost to relocate the electric poles. Lynn Packer, director of public works and county engineer, explained the poles are located in a private easement associated with an electric co-op and that federal rules have allowed some co-ops access to private easements; in this case the county must fund relocation and staff said the project would relocate over two miles of line. Packer told the commission the county typically accounts for known private easement costs in project budgets and that older easements sometimes surprise staff.

Commissioners also sought quantity clarification on the Stryker line item. Matt Morris, logistics division chief for EMS, stated the Stryker recommendation covers one power-load system, one cot and one stair chair to outfit a single ambulance.

After discussion a commissioner moved to approve the Board of Bids recommendations; the motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote of 5–0.