By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
EL RENO – A new electronic tracking system will help provide an extra layer of security at the Canadian County Jail.
Canadian County Commissioners have awarded a bid for an electronic key storage system at the county lock-up, 304 N Evans in El Reno. Commissioners took the action at their weekly meeting June 22, four weeks after they approved advertising for bids for this sheriff’s office project.
The contract went to Ra-Lock Security Solutions of Midlothian, Texas, whose $12,781 bid was the highest of three received. Other bidders were Morse Watchman’s Inc. ($12,593) and AdvanTech ($9,229.18).
Jail administrator Kristie Carter recommended Ra-Lock Security Solutions because of the Texas company’s closer proximity to Oklahoma than the Connecticut-based Morse Watchman’s, which makes a difference when needing technical help and repairs.
Carter noted these two vendors’ bids were “very competitive” and both have developed a market in corrections and law enforcement.
Maj. Carter told commissioners she was concerned about the quality offered by a third company that submitted the low bid, AdvanTech.
Canadian County’s jail administrator explained her reasons for recommending against awarding to the low bidder in a memo to Canadian County Purchasing.
“Review of the three companies indicate the lowest bidder appears to have the least experience in key system management and the desired system is not included in their leading product lines,” Carter wrote. “AdvanTech is located in Maryland, with their primary focus on asset inventory management.”
This key storage system will provide an electronic tracking system for keys and other security equipment at the Canadian County Jail, Carter told commissioners at their May 26 meeting. Everything is manual now.
Having the new system will limit access to who can have keys inside the county jail, according to Carter.
BALLISTIC VEST BIDS OPENED
Meanwhile, the county commissioners on Monday opened bids for new ballistic/spike resistant vests for the sheriff’s office.
Four vendors submitted bids with three options to provide the protective body armor: Dana Safety Supply, Konoval, Jeff Porter, and Cops Products.
Lt. Mike Grimes asked to review the bids before recommending an award at next Monday’s meeting.
The sheriff’s office plans to replace 49 vests and is seeking a federal grant to help cover the cost.
In other business at their June 22 meeting, Canadian County Commissioners approved:
- Authorizing a resolution to immediately reassert the commissioners’ authority to appoint the county’s benefit coordinator. The new coordinator is human resources director NaCole Majors and three alternates include County Clerk Sherry Murray.
- An annual agreement for the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office to provide uniformed security services for the 2020-21 school year at Canadian Valley Technology Center.
- Requesting the final draw of more than $8 million in loan proceeds from BancFirst to use for construction of the new county fairgrounds’ complex.
- Awarding a bid to Pro-Seal (on a per-unit basis) to provide an emulsified maltene-based asphalt rejuvenator on up to 12 miles of chip-seal road in District 1.
- Advertising for bids for fly ash, kiln dust and lime to help commissioners with road base stabilization.
