During Monday’s Marshall County Commissioner’s meeting Doug and Gary Masterson from the Maintenance Department presented a quote from M & J Electric Plus of Plymouth for a generator at the County Highway Department. Previously Michiana Contracting also of Plymouth had quoted the project.
The Highway Department is in need of a generator to provide power to the fuel pumps, truck heaters, and general office equipment when there is a loss of power.
There was some discussion on the quotes with M & J Electric Plus having the low quote of $53,725 and Michiana Contracting at $55,300. It was noted that Banner Electric was too busy to quote the project.
Commissioner Mike Delp said the quote from M & J was “generic” and they were asking for 40% down payment. He said the quote didn’t specifically detail feeding power to the fuel pumps. He also questioned the Generac brand power unit M & J quoted instead of the Cummins brand power unit that Michiana quoted saying, “I just feel there’s a difference in quality there in those units. I think the Cummins is a much better brand looking at a 25 to 30 year investment.”
Commissioner Delp also clarified his comments saying, “I was part owner of Michiana Contracting for 40 some years. As of January of this year I’m no longer an owner. I have nothing to do with the day to day operations. I take no profits. I have no financial interest in this at all. I’m just trying to solve a problem for the highway department.”
With written assurance that the quote from M & J Electric included powering the fuel pumps Commissioners Kurt Garner and Kevin Overmyer voted for the low quote of M & J while Commissioner Delp was the lone no vote.
