York County Board opens bids for truck, trailers and cameras

YORK – During their last meeting of the year, the York County Commissioners opened and considered bids for the purchase of a tractor/trailer combo, a dump trailer for the roads department and an 80-camera security system for the courthouse.

​Regarding the truck/trailer purchase for the roads department, they received five bids: Truck Center in Omaha (Freightliner), $150,000; Truck Center in Omaha, $153,126; Sahling Truck Center in York, $180,073; Sahling in York, $187,187; RDO in Lincoln, $157,512.
For the dump trailer, they received two bids: Crossroads in Alberto, Minnesota, $82,500; RDO in Lincoln, $73,070
For the cameras, they received seven bids: Midwest Alarm of Lincoln, $161,387; Midwest Security Systems (a variety of options and prices); SEI of Lincoln, $103,763; STS of Lincoln, $105,094; Applied Connective, $100,989; Kidwell of Lincoln, $270,625; SOARIN Group, $66,385.
The county board then recessed their meeting, in order for the technology committee to review the camera system bids and Greg Heine from the roads department with Commissioner Andy Bowman to review the truck/trailer bids. They recommended the $153,026 bid from Truck Center in Omaha.
“We went through the bids and found that to be the best value, it will serve the county for a long time,” Bowman said.
The county board used ARPA (federal COVID-relief) funds to pay for this truck/trailer purchase as $157,000 remained as of that particular date.
Regarding the dump trailer, Bowman and Heine recommended going with the $82,500 bid because this model holds extra yards and is made of material in which there will no worry about corrosion. The county board agreed. This will be purchased directly from the roads department fund as it was a budgeted item.
When it came to the security cameras and system, the process took longer because there were so many bids and such a wide range of offerings and prices. York County Sheriff Captain Josh Gillespie said they narrowed the bids down to two – those of Applied Connective and SOARIN Group. He noted one offered higher resolution and there was a $47,000 price difference between the two.
“We like them both and yes one is higher, but we thought we’d bring them both to the board,” Gillespie said.
“SOARIN lines up with everything we requested,” said Commissioner Daniel Grotz. “And both offer all new cabling, 80 cameras. On the flip side, with Applied Connective, there is higher resolution and we have had requests from the sheriff’s department and the 911 center to have constant recording not just when motion activated.”
Both said they would be comfortable with the SOARIN bid, noting the county already has equipment from this company as well as a professional relationship.
“I also don’t think I can justify a $48,000 difference in price when the lower is an excellent product,” Gillespie said.
“The SOARIN Group has always treated us well and they do a good job for us,” said Sheriff Paul Vrbka.
“I agree with what Josh said about being fiscally responsible and this is a huge upgrade from what we have now,” said Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier.
“Based on the comments from those who will actually use the camera system, I motion was go with SOARIN Group,” said Grotz.
The commissioners agreed, with the money coming out of the inheritance tax fund for this purchase.
These new cameras will replace the existing, aging cameras as well as add some new cameras to underserved areas.