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Commission Acknowledges Bidding Errors
(posted 6.17.09 )
Speedway Redevelopment Commission President Vince Noblet said the commission
erred in its method to hire Casey-Bertram Demolition to clean up and demolish
buildings at 1045 Main Street.
Noblet announced the mistake at the June 15th meeting and said "The
bid should have been read and opened in a public meeting." The master
developer handled the opening and paper work before the bid award at the
May 18 meeting. Casey-Bertram started the work before the commission formally
voted to award the company the project at that meeting.
Executive Director Scott Harris explained the two different methods for
public works jobs. Jobs costing over $75,000 need to go through the process
of advertising notices for bids. Quotes are obtained for jobs less than
$75,000. Either process requires bids or quotes to be opened in a public
meeting.
Barnes and Thornburg attorney Jim Gutting would not comment if the contract with Casey-Bertram is considered void since the proper procedures were not followed. IC 36-1-12-16 states "A contract for public work by a political subdivision or agency is void if it is not let in accordance with this chapter."
The Navigator contacted Gutting on May 19 to ask why the commission chose not to follow state law in awarding the contract. Gutting acknowledged receipt of the email on May 26 but failed to follow up. The Navigator filed a complaint on June 4 with the Public Access Counselor on advice of the Attorney General's office. The commission's legal counsel
present at their May 18 meeting made no attempt to correct the commission's
actions.
The Navigator has been concerned about the SRC's practices of seeking quotes
since April. At the April 20 commission meeting, Speedway Trails Association
President Beverly Dotlich Alexander appeared before the commission, seeking
an in-kind contribution and letter of support from the commission to help
obtain grant funds to develop trails in Speedway. Noblet asked her about
a quote the commission received from her employer, Dotlich Crane, to dismantle
the old water tower at 1045 Main Street. She stated the quote was given
as a "normal circumstance. And Dotlich says that we are willing to
work with you. It gets difficult when you donate, who you donate money
to. So, if we donate the money to the town, we don't want the developer
to keep it. So, we gave you a regular quote and with the knowledge we will
work with you on the dollar amount when it comes to it."
Noblet was critical of the Navigator editor for filing complaints with
the Public Access Counselor on the demolition contract and requesting the
purchase price of International Village. Noblet said the release of information
of the IV purchase would place the commission at a "marketing disadvantage"
to get the best price from developers.
Noblet admonished Linda Karn and Jo Ellen Dotlich for their previous filings,
saying the PAC ruled in favor of the commission each time. "In my
opinion, it is not worth the time and effort and definitely the cost we
go through, but that is my opinion." He said it cost about $3,000
to address each complaint.
Noblet's statement was false, the Navigator has filed three complaints against the commission, one was ruled against the town, two are pending.
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