The Floyd County Commission is being cautious about approving change orders to its $23.6 million contract with Harris Corp. for a countywide radio system.

Today is expected to be the second time the board defers action on additional expenses, pending more details from the company that nudged out Motorola Inc. on the design-build project.

County Manager Blaine Williams said Harris contends some information about subcontractors hired to help with problematic soil conditions at tower sites is proprietary. He’s told the board that the county attorney, public works director and emergency management director “feel comfortable” with the justifications for the changes.

Still, commissioners have said they’re serious about ensuring the deal they thought they were getting is maintained.

“They knew we wanted (the towers) on top of mountains and in rocky ground,” Commissioner Garry Fricks said.

Commission Chairman Irwin Bagwell asked last week that all change order requests be removed from today’s agenda, except for the addition of an audiolog server upgrade. The digital device records all 911 phone and radio conversations.

Williams said even with the increased costs at some tower sites, the project price would be $31,000 below the contract. The project is funded through a $26.7 million earmark in the 2009 special purpose, local option sales tax package.

Commissioners meet today at 2 p.m. in the County Administration Building. A pre-meeting caucus begins at 1:30 p.m.

Both sessions are open to the public.



Click to see an archived report on system proposals.