Work expected to be completed over the next year

The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners approved final contracts for approximately $1.6 million in planned upgrades Tuesday at the Freeborn County courthouse and jail.

The contracts were finalized with the following:

Stanley Security for $348,800 for jail and intercom upgrades

VTI Security for $599,562 for video and access control work

Albert Lea Electric for $473,869 for cabling

Peoples Electric for $93,945 for project management

Freeborn County Administrator Thomas Jensen said the county’s security system is about 15 years old.

“It’s nearing its end-of-life expectancy and its usefulness,” he said. “We need to continue to have the proper equipment we need to have to operate it. The equipment we have right now is antiquated, and you simply can’t find parts for it.”

The project is expected to be complete next February.

Included in the work is:

Programmable logic controller: Considered the heart of the jail’s security system, it includes door control and device monitoring.

Input output module: used in processes such as unlocking doors.

Human machine interface: software jail staff use to control doors, monitor alarms and view video cameras. The interface provides integration to jail security and intercom systems.

Video management system: software that records and plays back video cameras.

Work is planned for the facility’s electronic access control, intercom and public address systems, master control, structured cable and networking in the jail and government center, Highway Department and Human Services Department. The card reading system for employees will be updated to prevent security risks.

Eighty-eight existing cameras in the jail will be replaced, and 84 new cameras will be installed. Fifty-two cameras at the government center and 21 at the county highway shop will be upgraded. Eight cameras at Albert Lea City Garage and 12 at City Hall will be upgraded as part of the city’s information technology contract with the city. New cameras will also be installed in the Freeborn County commissioners boardroom.

Jensen said 23 cameras in the system are broken, and he expects some of the new cameras to be installed soon.

“It was a necessity,” he said. “Do we want to do it? No. Was it fun to do? No. Do we want to spend $1.6 million? No. … it is a cost of doing business. You have to maintain your equipment, you have to maintain your systems.”

In other action, the board:

Placed Recorder’s Office support specialist Heather Bagley and Human Resource Director Candace Pesch on regular full-time status.

Approved accelerating the purchase of three Mack trucks, which are expected to be in place for next winter. Freeborn County Highway Engineer Sue Miller said the county’s fleet of 2012 International Trucks frequently break down during snowstorms due to required emission changes. The MAC trucks are expected to cost a total of $675,000.

Asked for further information on a $48,500 grant agreement with the Board of Water and Soil Resources to modernize ditch records. The grant would have required an $84,000 match from the county. The resolution was not voted on after commissioners Dan Belshan and Jim Nelson expressed concern over the grant and requested more information on needed matching funds.