Residents in southern Bel Air will soon have access to a closer emergency substation.
In a Board of Estimates meeting Thursday morning, members voted to approve funding for a Patterson Mill Fire Substation for the Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, totaling $2,312,030 to the Mullan Contracting Company.
County Councilman James McMahan, who was filling in for President Billy Boniface, spoke up in favor of the project. McMahan represents the Bel Air district.
Getting through the traffic to reach 924 and southern Bel Air residents, McMahan said, can add an extra five minutes.
"Five minutes response time for a heart attack or stroke victim can many times be the difference between life and death," he said.
Scott Kearby, deputy director of the construction management division of the Department of Public Works, said the project would take roughly a year and be completed next September.
The substation will be stocked with three emergency vehicles, including at least one firetruck and an ambulance.
The board also approved $4 million to Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. for wholesale electricity for one year with an option to renew for four additional one-year options.
The contract would go right into effect for hedge purchases, which are when the county buys electricity in the future, but until December the county has a remaining contract with Pepco for around the clock energy.
For hedge purchases, which Deborah Henderson, director of the Department of Procurement, said makes up 80 percent of the county's portfolio, Washington Gas offered electricity for $.80 per megawatt.
This was less than what Constellation Energy bid, which according to Henderson was more than a dollar per megawatt.
Board members also approved $479,555 to American Infrastructure-MD, Inc. for the road resurfacing of several roads, including Park Beach Drive.
Another contract was approved for road repair, to Monumental Paving and Excavation, Inc. not to exceed $150,000 per year. This one, however, is specifically to fix patches of roadway and covers labor, equipment, materials and supervision.
The Department of Public Works does not typically spend more than $100,000 per year on repairs, according to Superintendent of Maintenance Richard Rex.
Monumental, a company out of Baltimore, was the sole bidder, Rex said, because local companies are not necessarily equipped to handle small patches of roadway, preferring new construction.
The board also approved two contracts to C.Y. Meter Service. One, in the amount of $393,890, is for labor, materials and equipment to test and repair backflow preventers.
The company also received a contract at $144,273 to test and potentially repair meters throughout Harford County.
The county is also starting a project called Safe Routes to School, which will install a sidewalk along Cedar Drive, pedestrian crossing lights on Trimble Road and a speed bump on Barksdale Road.
The contract is for Frank J. Goettner Construction Company, Inc. at $87,840. The funds, according to Engineering Associate Tim Dorbit with public works, are coming from the Federal Highway Administration's Safe Routes to School grant.
Dorbit also said these particular projects were recommended by the Harford County Sheriff's Office.
Several schools are scheduled to get tennis court renovations, too.
The board voted to award $85,962.75 to American Tennis Courts to renovate and repair multi-use courts at Joppatowne High School, Havre de Grace High School, Magnolia Middle School and Jarrettsville Elementary School.
Board members also approved $165,000 to the Harford Business Innovation Center to provide IT support for the business incubator in Belcamp.
The project is funded by a grant, according to Denise Carnaggio, deputy director of the Department of Economic Development.
The meeting ended in a closed session to discuss acquisition for fee simple property for road projects, according to Harford County Executive David Craig.