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After two years, city to improve alarms
(by Sue Reid - June 16, 2010)
After two years, city to improve alarms
By SUE REID
Solon City Council's safety and public properties committee agreed to prepare legislation last week to advertise for bids for fire-alarm and suppression systems for city buildings.
Discussions on the project began in March 2008, following malfunctioning of the police department's alarm-monitoring system, said Jeffrey Pokorny, director of information technology.
Concerns were raised among council and committee members over the project's estimated $1 million price tag and debate took place as to what buildings to include in the design process.
Fire Chief William J. Shaw provided a memo at that time identifying a short list of "mission critical improvements," Mr. Pokorny said. Eight out of 13 projects were selected and represent a "fairly significant amount of money," Mr. Pokorny said. The total estimated cost of all listed projects is $543,800.
Mr. Pokorny said that understanding those concerns regarding cost, the plans and specifications were prepared with separate bid forms for each project and specification.
"It will therefore be City Council's choice to award any, all, or none of the projects," Mr. Pokorny said.
Councilman Edward H. Kraus said that once the bids come back, he suggested the projects be ranked by priority and a list brought back to the committee.
Mr. Pokorny provided the committee a list of the estimated cost for each project. They include: the installation of a new fire-alarm system in Fire Station No. 1 at $46,000; installation of a sprinkler suppression system in Fire Station No. 1 at $92,000; installation of a new clean-agent suppression system in the police department telecom room and computer server room at $69,000; installation of a new clean-agent suppression system in the City Hall telecom room for $34,500; installation of a new fire alarm and sprinkler system in the historical society building at $135,000; replacement of the existing fire-alarm systems at the water-reclamation plant at $109,300; modification of the fire-alarm system at the Solon Center for the Arts at $12,000; and replacement of the existing fire alarm system in the Grantwood clubhouse at $46,000.
"Although all the improvements are necessary, the inability to fund all improvements may extend the time frame in which they are performed," Mr. Pokorny said.
He also said that what originally was planned to be accomplished with the project matches Mr. Shaw's list of recommendations.
Mr. Pokorny had said that the objective of the project was to create uniformity with the city's alarm systems.
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