Local Chosen Over Price In Vehicle Purchase
WARSAW — It was a unanimous decision by the Warsaw Board of Works to choose a local vendor over a $6,191.32 savings on the purchase of four 2016 Chevrolet police vehicles. The decision was made Friday morning, Jan. 15, at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting.
The three-member board however, didn’t jump at an immediate decision. Mayor Joe Thallemer, George Clemens and Jeff Grose discussed the decision openly and quietly among themselves. The final decision: award the bid to Lakeside Chevrolet, Warsaw, at the cost of $101,991.32 with trade-in on four new police vehicles. Kelley Chevrolet, Fort Wayne, submitted a bid, with trade-in, at $95,800.
The bids were opened at the start of the meeting and reviewed by Lt. Kip Shuter, Warsaw Police Department and James Emans, city engineer, before final action was made at the close of the meeting. Shuter recommended Kelley, as the bid was lower than Lakeside, there was a $4,000 difference in trade-in prices and Kelley was 6 percent lower in purchase price.
Thallemer initiated the discussion noting in the past the BOW has, on certain contracts, preferred local vendors. “Typically they are smaller percentages. We’ve approved a 4-5 percent difference in the past … this is not an easy decision to make. We want to give the local businesses the benefit.”
Clemens and Grose asked several questions: where would service be provided? Were the specifications the same? Shuter noted the service and warranty work would be done in Warsaw and the specifications were identical. The question loomed what would be the tipping point on the amount of staying local or going outside?
Shuter noted the money saved could be used for other areas. The tightness of the budget was noted by the mayor and BOW members agreed that was a good point.
“I like the idea of awarding locally on six figure contracts,” said Grose. “Looking at the direction, it is the right way to go. I’m in agreement, this time to go with the local bid,” he added making the motion to not accept the low bid of Kelley Chevrolet, but award the bid to Lakeside Chevrolet.
Clemens reminded his fellow members the owners of Lakeside Chevrolet have invested heavily in the community.
During other business:
- Approved payment to VS Engineering, Indianapolis, in the amount of $3,992.88 for preliminary engineering work on Phase 2 of the Market Street project.
- Approved the agreement with Green & Grossnickle for legal services for the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory.
- Approved acceptance of the KREMC Operation Round Up Grant in the amount of $1,500 and to apply for the Indiana Arts Commission Grant in the amount of $5,000. The KREMC grant will be used for entertainment at the Family Carnival, while the arts commission grant will be used for the 2017 Concerts in the Park.
- Signed a contract with Monster Message/Flint Creative Consulting to provide screen apparatus for Family Movie Night at Central Park July 16 and Sept. 17, a total cost of $1,500.
- Granted a monthly contract of $103 per month with Arab Pest Control for monthly treatment at Pete Thorn Center, Center Lake Pavilion, Fireman’s Building and Nye Youth Cabin. Additional exterior treatment needed would be at no extra cost.
- Approved payment of $14,900 to Wastewater Solutions, Inc., to provide required and plant specific training to wastewater utility employees over a four-day period.
- Approved service agreement with MedSat in 2016 at a 5 percent increase, which includes same prices for after hour care in the emergency room at Kosciusko Community Hospital.
- Granted permission to apply to the K21 Health Foundation for a grant in the amount of $4,000 to purchase D.A.R.E. graduation T-shirts for 620 students.