Abingdon water treatment plant

Additional time and money is need to complete the expansion of the Abingdon Water Treatment Plant.

The board approved a change order for $71,280, bringing the amended contract with Arcadis U.S. Inc., of Columbia, to $3,185,047.42.

Jackie Ludwig, of water and sewer, said the contractors "slipped up" during Phase II of the project, causing delays in Phase III.

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During Phase II, Ludwig said, the treatment plant had to run for 30 days without having issues, but this didn't occur.

The plant was unable to automatically run, she explained, and improper wiring had to be redone. Ludwig said this was the contractor's mistake and the person responsible was no longer with the company.

The project is slated to be completed by the end of April. The original completion date was Nov. 16, 2011.

Wireless radio system expansion

The board approved a $1,732,395 contract with Motorola as Harford's share of expanding the region's wireless radio system used by public safety employees for communication during major fire and law enforcement events.

The wireless system serves Harford Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Howard counties and Baltimore City.

Mitch Vocke, with emergency operations, explained the county won't incur direct expenses for the project, as it's covered by a grant from Regional Homeland Security.

"Over the years, the various member jurisdictions of the BMC [Baltimore Metropolitan Council] have shared the responsibility of coordinating activities related to the CMARC [Central Maryland Area Radio Communications] system," read a memo from Vocke to Debbie Henderson, director of procurement. "Harford County has now assumed this role and accordingly we are asking to approve the expenditure of regional grant funding."

Natural gas funding

Constellation New Energy-Gas Division will again serve the county government's natural gas needs.

The contract with Constellation, which was up for renewal, is for an award not to exceed $500,000 for one year, with options to renew for four additional one-year periods.

When the contract was put up for bid, Henderson explained, Constellation was once again the best choice.

Last year the county spent $325,000 on natural gas. Henderson said she doesn't believe they'll reach the $500,000 maximum this year, either.

Test pit explorations

An amount not to exceed $50,000 will go to Underground Services Inc., of West Chester, Pa., to procure test pit explorations on various projects throughout the county.

Underground Services was the lowest out of five bidders for the contract.

Leases

The county's internal affairs office will move from its current location at 206 Hays Street in Bel Air to the second floor of 10 S. Main Street for a lease of $25,200, plus utilities, for one year with four one-year automatic renewals.

Erin Schafer, with the department of procurement, said the move is the result of the Hays Street building being sold.

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region will lease 34 N. Philadelphia Boulevard in Aberdeen for $1 for one year with a one-year automatic renewal.

The organization will use the building to conduct job training in conjunction with the Susquehanna Workforce Network.