Crawford County commissioners asked to find funds after jail fire-suppression panel deemed obsolete; flooring bids reviewed

Robert Grant, a member of the public who addressed the commission during the public-comment period, described a failure of the pressure switch and control panel for a pump behind the jail kitchen and said Conley Fire told the county the existing panel is obsolete and cannot be repaired. "They determined the switch cannot be replaced due to the parts and the panel being obsolete," Grant said, adding the equipment is roughly 15 years old.

Conley Fire submitted a proposal to replace the fire-suppression cabinet and system, and county staff told commissioners the bid total (before tax and separate alarm/electrical work) would be roughly $32,520. Commissioners and staff discussed that CMS (alarm vendor) and Scott Born (electrical contractor) would handle alarm and electrical removal/reinstallation, with those costs to come from the jail budget. Commissioners asked staff to identify funding and report back by Friday.

The commission also reviewed multiple bids for flooring at the jail kitchen. Staff reported two material bids (one for $5,112.77 and another for $3,838.25) and installation bids including $4,400 for installation (MidCentral Contract Services) and a tile option quoted at $5,297 with demo and prep included. Commissioners asked staff (Billy and Robert Grant were named as reviewers) to obtain itemized invoices where possible and return a recommendation at the next meeting or by Friday.

Commissioners emphasized that fire protection remains functional in the short term but that a long-term replacement will require appropriation. There was no formal vote to approve the larger replacement at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to pursue funding options and update the board with a cost breakdown and timeline for work.