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Concern Over Vehicle Bidding Is Addressed

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

Items of interest from Monday's Plant City Commission meeting include:

•The meeting began with a moment of silence in memory of strawberry grower Roy Parke, who died June 5.

Opening the meeting, Mayor Rick Lott recalled that when he was a child he was always delighted to spot "Mr. Parke" around town. "He was almost like a movie star" to youngsters, the mayor remarked. "He'll be sorely missed in our community," Lott said.

•The low bid for a new 3/4 -ton pickup truck, submitted by a Daytona Beach Ford dealer, was accepted by commissioners.

The $26,389 bid by Gary Yeomans Ford was recommended for acceptance and unanimously approved by commissioners.

Of the eight bids received, Jarrett-Scott Ford was the sole Plant City dealer, which bid $29,782.

Other bids for the truck to replace a 1992 model used by the motor garage to respond to repair calls for city vehicles and equipment, came from dealers in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Milton, Maitland, West Palm Beach and Sanford.

In response to concerns about the lack of bids from locals, city staff recently met with Marion Smith, president of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the best way to notify its membership.

It was announced May 12 that in the future the city purchasing department will notify the chamber of bid solicitations for cars, trucks and commercial construction. In turn, the chamber will notify its membership.

•Bids for two garbage trucks opened March 27 were rejected by commissioners because they exceeded the anticipated cost and budget.

Three bids received on a front-load refuse truck ranged from $183,038 to nearly $187,000, but the city budgeted only $170,000 for the truck to replace a 2001 Mack truck for collection of commercial garbage.

Four bids received for a rear-load garbage truck with a capacity of eight cubic yards ranged from $87,342 to $93,095, all above the budgeted $80,000.

Plans are to combine the two garbage trucks into a single bid and, this time, request trade-in equity for the Mack truck in hopes of receiving bids within budget.

George Wilkens

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