The Barton County Commission Wednesday morning approved a new digital sign for the Barton County Health Department for $51,096 from Mark’s Custom Signs of Great Bend. It also OKed requesting proposals to handle the electrical work. 

The department solicited request for proposals for the acquisition and installation of new LED signage for its building at 1300 Kansas Ave., said Health Director Karen Winkelman. This included a professional LED display monitor, software, and all necessary cabling and wire runs.

However, “we received only one bid, and that was from Mark’s Custom Signs,” she said. “Unfortunately, this bid did not meet the requirements of that RFP because it did not include the electrical work in it.”

So, she contacted a local electrician just to see what this work would entail. She found out that the estimate would be over the $5,000 limit and would require a bid process. 

“So, as a result, I’m asking you to consider to approve the bid from Mark’s Custom Signs for the sign only, and then to authorize me to release a second RFP for the electronics,” she said.