NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Courthouse will be receiving some upgrades to its security systems.

As part of their meeting Thursday, Hancock County Commissioners approved a pair of proposals, awarding bids to Advance Security Technologies of Chester to replace the courthouse’s security cameras and panic alarm system.

Commissioner Paul Cowey noted the award follows a review of bids by a group of individuals.

“We have had a panel of four different people,” Cowey said. “It’s taken several hours of their time.”

Commission President Eron Chek followed up, explaining commissioners were provided with an anonymous tally of the bids, with each scored based on their offers.

“The commission doesn’t know who scored the proposals how,” she said.

The camera contract comes with a five-year warranty, it was noted.

Mike Lucas, the commission’s legal counsel, confirmed both bid packages were reviewed through the same process.

Chek further noted the projects will be funded through a Congressionally Directed Spending grant previously awarded to the county.

“Both of these will fall within the amount we have,” Chek said.

AST was among a group of seven companies submitting bids for one or both of the projects.

Other bidders for the projects included Connectivity Communications of Pittsburgh, who bid on both; Capitol Electronic, with locations in both West Virginia and Pennsylvania, who bid only on the panic alarm; SIEMENS, in Pittsburgh, which bid on both; Advantage Tech of Charleston, which bid only on the cameras; Everon, of Pittsburgh, and Lauttamus Communications and Security, of Weirton, both of which bid on both packages.

This is the second time within the last year the commission has awarded a bid for security upgrades to the courthouse.

Last June, a proposal, also from AST, was approved by commissioners. The award was pulled back the following month after two of the other bidders expressed concerns over the bid process.

chowell@weirtondailytimes.com