The county received seven “qualified” bids from firms around the country for engineering design and construction management of a countywide fiber optic communications network, Cook County Information Systems Director Danna MacKenzie reported to the county board December 22, 2009.
A six-member review committee interviewed three companies and decided Spectrum Engineering Corporation of Auburn, Indiana was the best fit for the project. Spectrum Engineering will subcontract with RW Communications Services of Eldorado, Wisconsin, which will handle the permitting process with other governmental entities such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Spectrum Engineering was considered the best fit, MacKenzie said, for its flexibility, understanding of the area, ability to work with governmental entities, and pricing (the lowest of the three firms interviewed). She recommended using Spectrum Engineering if funding for the project is procured.
The county board unanimously approved a motion to negotiate a contract with Spectrum Engineering, contingent on being awarded the federal stimulus grant that has been applied for. The contract would need to be approved by the county board.
On the review committee were MacKenzie, project consultant Doug Dawson, Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth, Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Executive Director Don Stead, Jack McDonnell of Boreal Access, and Hedstrom Lumber Company President Howard Hedstrom.
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