Thursday, May 12, 2011
Business Owner Questions Bid-Letting On City Renovation Project
A local business owner addressed the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council during their business meeting Thursday in order to inquire as to whether bid-letting on recent renovation projects was appropriately handled.
Tom Reeves, owner of Lawrenceburg Flooring, addressed the council regarding recent renovations to the auditorium and courtroom at the City Administration Building.
Reeves pointed out that city statutes require that bids be let on projects when costs involved exceed $8,000. He explained that even though he has a city business license, he had no opportunity to submit a bid himself.
City codes require that any project exceeding the $8,000 mark must be advertised, bids accepted, and approval obtained through the city council. Reeves pointed out that, had the projects been advertised for bid, he would have had the opportunity to vie for the work himself.
The auditorium and courtroom projects, undertaken several weeks apart, were considered two separate projects. City Administrator William McLain explained that an interior decorator was hired to oversee the projects.
Since neither project exceeded $8,000 he said the steps required under the city purchasing policy were taken, with bids obtained from three licensed businesses. The company awarded the bid, although the second lowest bidder, was given the contract because it was a local company, he said.
McLain explained that he had not been aware that there was more than one business within the city limits licensed to perform the work. He indicated that Reeves would be included in bidding for any future projects.
McLain pointed out that Reeves was never denied an opportunity to bid on the projects, but that he expressed discontent after the fact. “I offered him as good an apology, as humble an apology as I know how to offer,” he stated.
Council member Jerry Moore told Reeves, “It seems like this probably could’ve been handled better than it was.”
Council member Ronald Fox agreed, saying, “It boils down to, there was a mistake made…we should have let Mr. Reeves bid on it.”
Council member Jamie Sevier pointed out that regardless, McLain had followed city guidelines and no violations were made.
Reeves explained that he had not come before the board to create problems, but rather to request that in the future such situations be handled in a different manner. “Sometimes we get used to certain things and we don’t follow good protocol,” he said, “All I ask is that your protocol be changed…that you treat everybody fair who is supporting this city.”
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