PINEVILLE - All roads in Bell County have been renamed in order to do away with duplicates, so now the second step in getting 911 has been taken. At Tuesday's meeting the Bell County Fiscal Court took bids from four companies to install part or all of the proposed 911 system, with the help of Homeland Security.

There were four bids received for the project; however, only one company bid all three phases to install the 911 system.

Brooks Tire bid $58,137.32 just for repeaters and antennas. Applied Digital Solutions bid $13,896.15 for digital recorders. Bell South submitted a bid of $222,440 for an ANI/LAT phones and mapping system. Harlan Two-Way bid $187,490.60 for all three parts of the 911 system.

While each company submitted details concerning their bids, magistrates voted to table them and make sure what each company was bidding on, before making a decision. They will look at the bids along with Bell County Emergency Management Coordinator Paul Wilson. At the present, Bell County has received a $160,616.40 grant for the equipment with a possibility of a $40,000 grant from another company for the project. The court will vote on the matter later this month in a special-called meeting.

In other action the court voted to award T.J. Helton Construction of Helton the PRIDE clean-up grant for Henry Bolin Gap. Helton bid $49,400 for the job. John's Excavating of Harrogate bid $16,750 to clean up the illegal garbage dump at Bean's Fork. Magistrates voted the lowest bid on each job.

The fiscal court was strangely silent when a vote to change Patsy Bracken from bailiff to the animal shelter was asked for from the agenda. Judge-Executive Bill Kelley, after giving magistrates time, stated the question was passed over for a lack of a motion.

The change would have actually given the shelter a full staff, as they are currently in need of another worker to replace one who moved to another job.

A bid from DWB Builders to tear down the old theater and office building behind the jail was accepted. The space will be used to build a new jail.

David Cornelius was promoted to Chief Deputy Sheriff at his current pay rate. Cornelius will take Sheriff Bruce Bennett's place when he is not available in the county.

Johnny McGeorge was hired as a part-time bailiff at $6.50 an hour effective Thursday.

In other action magistrates voted to accept Winchester Extension into the Bell County Road System, as requested by the Kentucky Department of Transportation. The street is located outside Middlesboro city limits and goes to the Tennessee state line.

The court voted to approve $45,900 to G&J Willis, Inc. for services on the industrial building in the Middlesboro industrial park.

A payment of $12,585.15 to Vaughn & Melton Engineers for the Laurel Fork, Martin Green Straight, Fourmile and Wilson Lane Water projects was approved along with $1,999.07 for engineering work on the Don Green Road, Brownies Creek and Meldrum water line extensions.

Atkins Excavating Company was paid $68,672.41 for work on the Don Green Road, Brownies Creek and Meldrum water line extensions and $80,070.70 for work on the Laurel Fork, Martin Green Straight, Fourmile and Wilson Lane water project.

Sheriff claim sheet for November fees of $15,390.63 was accepted by the fiscal court.

Bell County Court Clerk Joan Asher Cawood presented a check of $15,114.44 to the fiscal court in fees.

C.J. Harte is a Correspondent for the Daily News. He can be reached via e-mail at charte@middlesborodailynews.com.