The Jefferson College Board of Trustees approved more than $550,000 in expenditures at its Sept. 14 meeting.
The largest single purchase approved by the board was $247,486 to buy two driving simulator systems for the college’s Law Enforcement Academy, replacing older equipment. The purchase will come from DORON Precision Systems in Binghamton, N.Y., which is the only vendor that makes the equipment.
The board voted 4-0 to approve that purchase. Board members Margie Passmore and Steve Meinberg did not attend the meeting.
Staff reported that the simulators are essential for driver training for students, as well as area law enforcement agencies. The academy each year sends three recruit classes through driver training as required by the Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training program to complete mandatory defensive driver training. In addition, all law enforcement agencies are required to have their officers take defensive driving training annually.
Outside agencies pay the college to use the driving simulators, staff said.
Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey said on Monday, everything has been ordered.
“We hope everything will be here by the end of the first semester so it will be available for use the second semester,” McCaffrey said.
The other significant purchases authorized by the board, all also by 4-0 votes, during the meeting included:
■ $154,000 for a redesign of the college’s website, with the bid going to 25th Hour Communications Inc., Mashpee, Mass. The bid was the third-lowest of four bids, but staff advised it as the best option because the company has vast experience with working with higher education institutions and met all the criteria set out by the college.
Blake Tilley, the college’s executive director of strategic planning and communications, told the board much time has passed since the college’s website got a redesign.
“It’s been almost nine years,” he said.
■ $52,200 for a forklift for the Area Technical School metal fabrication program. Wiese of St. Louis won the contract as the lowest of three bidders. The purchase will allow students in the program to receive forklift training, which could lead to forklift certification, staff reported.
■ $35,990 for a digital radiography and X-ray system for the college’s veterinary technology program from IDEXX of Atlanta, Ga., the only vendor to make the product. Staff reported the purchase will provide updated technology to replace its radiography system.
■ $34,430 for two manikins (simulation devices) for the emergency medical technology program from Echo Healthcare of Sarasota, Fla, a sole-source provider. The two items, a teenager and a toddler, simulate realistic lung water rescue, resuscitation and various thoracic effects, staff reported.
■ $29,630 for a vertical knee mill for the precision machining technology program from Zimmerman of St. Louis, the lowest bidder of three. It will replace an old and worn-out knee mill, staff reported.