Hardin County residents could soon see several LED public information digital signs on display throughout the community.
Aug. 13, the Hardin County Commissioners Court approved a request from Emergency Management Coordinator Aaron Topper to allocate up to $350,000 of 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding towards the purchase and installation of six signs. Action was later approved for Purchasing Agent Misty Sims to solicit bids for the six permanent LED public information digital signs.
“This was an idea from our grant administrator when we were talking about some various projects,” said County Judge Wayne McDaniel, pointing at nearby Orange County and other counties, which are installing LED public information digital signs. “We have some unallocated funds.”
“The idea is to put them at each of the precinct barns,” McDaniel added, indicating that the LED signs could get information out to the public better, especially along storm evacuation routes. “Since the Precinct 4 barn is not on a well-traveled area, we thought about talking to Hardin County ESD No. 2 and putting it on the highway. We also talked about putting one on the Courthouse Square and maybe another one on FM 92 at the Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 office.”
The court additionally approved the allocation of up to $15,500 of ARPA funding to purchase and install six interactive information kiosks within the Hardin County Courthouse and Courthouse Annex Building.
“When you first come into the public entrance, there’s an old cork board behind the glass with letters to let you know when people move offices or new people come in,” McDaniel said. “We have to go and find some letters and a lot of the ‘E’s are actually ‘3’s because we can’t find these letters anymore.”
The judge noted he asked Tupper to look at the electronic boards.
Tupper stated there would be three on the first floor, two on the second floor with one being strictly for the district clerk with other information, and one would also be placed in the Courthouse Annex Building. McDaniel suggested that one of the kiosks could be place at the Courthouse Dome, displaying the history of Hardin County.
Concerning ARPA funds, McDaniel said there are funds allocated for work at the jail and courthouse.
Aug. 20, commissioners authorized the purchasing agent to solicit bids for Phase 2 of the hurricane safe room, and for the courthouse and jail renovations. He added the deadline for all contracts for APRA funding is Dec. 31.
“All bids will be ready to discuss during the Oct. 8 commissioners court meeting,” said McDaniel. “That is when we will decide on which projects will proceed to contract and will know all details/ amounts at that time.”