Fire board waives bids, approves purchase of two compressors on sale for $102,256.49

Miami County Fire Board members voted unanimously to waive the competitive bid process and purchase two air compressors and high-pressure bottles for Lewisburg and Fontana fire stations. Rural fire coordinator Mark Whalen told the board Bauer Compressors was offering nearly a 50% discount on the size units needed. The bundled price, including shipping, installation and five new 6,000-PSI bottles, was presented as $102,256.49; Whalen said an additional bottle for Fontana was needed at just under $2,000 because the station's current system has only three bottles and a new compressor requires four. Funding to cover most of the expense came from recent Purple Wave auction proceeds that netted $85,360 (minus fees) and the sale of a Lewisburg engine and other old equipment. Commissioner Dideker moved to approve the purchase and waiver of bidding; Commissioner Scruggs seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.