BEDFORD – The Bedford Board of Works approved Pritchett Brothers to install Bedford’s new Baby Box.
Duke Energy awarded the City of Bedford a $15,000 grant for the project. Pritchett Brothers Construction submitted a bid of $6,500 and the city will pay $1,500 towards the project.
A Baby Box is a safety device provided under the state’s Safe Haven Law and legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender their newborn, if they are unable to care for it. A Baby Box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital.
The box is monitored 24/7, fire officials said. When a baby is placed in the box, it triggers an alarm, notifying officials when to pick up and care for the baby.
The Indiana Safe Haven law allows a parent to bring a child, 30 days old or younger, to an employee at any hospital emergency room, manned fire station, or law enforcement agency without facing prosecution for endangering or abandoning a child, officials said. A parent can also use a safety device like the Baby Box to ensure anonymity for the parent.
Bedford Board of Works did not receive any bids for the Bedford Development Center (formerly Bedford College Center). The city will be looking at other options in trying to get this property back on the tax rolls.
Bedford Mayor Sam Craig will be asking Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC to look at researching various information for the city. The Board of Works approved an agreement with this firm to perform the work.
