Jackson County Times

Top Story News

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mow; Commissioners have to pick between two mowing contractors.

By Sid Riley

The Commissioners didn’t use the “eenie, meenie, miney, moe” technique for choosing which bidding company won the county’s annual right of way mowing contract, but they did use an approach which violates their established rules for awarding the bid, according to the owner of Hayes Land Clearing and his attorney, Guy Green. Apparently Hayes was the qualified low bidder for the contract, but at the request of Roads and Bridges Superintendent, at the February 9 Board meeting, Commissioners Branch and Stephens voted to award the contract to Hayes, but Commissioners Spires, Crutchfield, and Lockey voted to award the contract to J. Michaels Weed Eating, the previous year’s contractor. They cited familiarity with the company’s prior performance as justification for this action.

Attorney Guy Green pled for reconsideration of the matter by the Board. He asked them to consider three alternatives;

(1) Changing the award and giving it to Hayes Land Clearing since they were the low bidder,

(2) Splitting the county into two halves, and awarding a contract to both companies, or

(3) allowing county attorney Frank Baker to evaluate the legal ramifications if the Board reversed the contract award.

Green reminded the panel that the decision would cost the county and thus the taxpayers an estimated $18,000 extra by not awarding to the low bidder. “This money could be used to help in areas where budget shortages are predicted, such as the Library,” Green said.

The Commissioners were unable to achieve a motion and a second on the matter, so the previous decision remains in effect. This puts the ball back into the court of Hayes Land Clearing. They may decide to take court action against the county for not following normal, defined bidding practices.

1 comment:

  1. I think we need to remind these commissioner's our familiarity with your performance will be justification for our voting action at your relection time
    how about that Mr.Spires,
    Mr.Crutchfield,Mr.Lockey

    ReplyDelete