High Springs Delays Security System

HIGH SPRINGS – The City of High Springs is postponing the purchase of a security system for City Hall. The City had asked for bids on an access control system and received a total of nine bids, which Emerald Data Partners founder Eric May said was surprising during a time when everything was locked down due to COVID-19. May said all but two of the submittals met the bid requirements. The range of bid amounts is $16,504 - $45,000.

May, a former High Springs City Commissioner, pointed out that this was a security issue that the City has wanted to address for some time. He has been working with the City to provide technology consulting services, strategy, data backup and disaster recovery services and was asked to spearhead the search for a structural security system for City Hall.

Although the bids were ranked and May reviewed the pros and cons of the top submittals, the High Springs City Commission declined to act on the bids at this time. That decision was made following a question to the Finance Director by Commissioner Scott Jamison as to whether the purchase had been included in this fiscal year’s budget.

Learning that it had not, Commissioners asked if the item could be re-bid for the next fiscal year’s budget or whether some of the bidders would extend their bids. May said it was unlikely they would extend their bids into or past October, the beginning of the City’s next fiscal year’s budget. May had said previously that the City had no idea what the costs might be for such a system. “Now that the City has received these bids, a reasonable amount can now be budgeted for the next fiscal year,” said May.

Commissioner Nancy Lavin moved and Commissioner Gloria James seconded a motion to table the issue until the next fiscal year. The motion was unanimously approved.

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