Commissioners signed off on a quote by Force Technology Solutions LLC for new equipment and installation in the meeting room at the Annex. Force Technology Solutions LLC is a local company based in Greenfield.
Lacey Watt | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — Earlier last week, Hancock County’s IT director Bernie Harris went before the board of commissioners with proposals for new AV equipment for the meeting room.
On Oct. 3, Harris said to commissioners Bill Spalding and Gary McDaniel (John Jessup absent), that they had received two different quotes that would allow them to update the technology used for commissioner meetings, county council meetings and more.
One quote was from Force Technology Solutions LLC, which is the same company that is used by the city of Greenfield in their meeting room. They proposed to remove the projector screen and add a total of four monitors, two that would face the audience and the other two for board members.
“Going through these quotes, I’ve learned something about monitors,” said Harris at the commissioner’s meeting. “… The monitors they are proposing are industrial-type monitors that are probably going to last 10 years, whereas if you get a monitor from Walmart it’s probably going to last you four or five years.”
Harris said that Force Technology Solutions LLC also proposed that the current cameras in the meeting room be moved inward for the review of items.
Commissioner Gary McDaniel said that the equipment updated is needed and that the old equipment that is currently used isn’t up to standards. McDaniel said at the meeting that when sitting through a plan commission meeting, some items such as plan drawings need to be seen.
“We’ve got people standing on tables trying to plug things in and just to replace the pull down screen, it’s quite expensive so we figured go ahead and get new electronic equipment,” McDaniel said. “… We can’t get things to work … it’s time to get something new.”
McDaniel said that while the updates for the equipment will be expensive, it is something that is needed.
The quote from Force Technology solutions is $30,359.86 which includes the purchase of the equipment and installation. While that quote did not mention if a warranty was offered, the other one did. However, the second quote did not quote to move the camera equipment for better angling.
Harris said that he would later find out if Force Technology Solutions LLC would include the option of warranty.
Commissioner Spalding asked Harris if he was able to see if the city had been satisfied with the services provided and Harris said that the city was.
Harris said that between the two quotes he presented at that meeting and one he had presented before at an earlier meeting, there wasn’t any major difference, but they were familiar with Force Technology Solutions LLC work. The company is also local, being based out of Greenfield.
The board passed a motion to enter into an agreement for the four monitors and equipment installation which would be paid for out of the 2022 GO bond.
At a statewide level, House Bill 1167 was signed into law and will take effect July 1, 2025. It will require all governing bodies of state and local agencies to provide live transmissions of public meetings and an archive of copies of the transmissions with access to agendas, minutes or memoranda with a few exceptions.
Commissioner Spalding said in an email that they are looking forward to the installation very soon.
“We will be able to share information more easily and effectively with our community,” said Spalding in an email. “We will have high quality viewing screens for display which will enhance the communication process.”
