RM 01-16-76 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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6. NtW BUSINESS (Cont'd the line, some of the contractors would enjoy having a few con- tracts; there's quite a bit of money involved here! Commis- sioner Wiggins said, "We can't force people to bid." Mr. Butler's opinion was, "I think Mr. Robinson can be 'damned helpful' to the Commission and to the community in this respect -- generating the response. The response to this point has been just very disappoint- ing. Commissioner Wiggins said the real sad thing is when you come up with things that need to be done, you just don't get any bidders, and that has happened to us too, you know. Mr. Lindstaedt said the Board of Safety had the same problem a way back with demoli- tion- -too many contracts with one contractor that was delaying the work and causing confusion. Commissioner Wiggins said on the basis of the current track record - -and this is what you have to go by -- Madison has been responsible; they have been performing [agreed to by Mr. Lindstaedt], and you can't argue with success. The guy is doing the job and you can't hang him unless he has committed the offense. Mr. Lindstaedt said somewhere down the line, some of the contractors are missing the boat on a lot of these contracts. "This is puzzling me a little bit. Why aren't more contractors bidding? I would like to know why ?" Mr. Dan Caesar, Reporter for WSBT -TV, asked if the only reason could be because of the legal matters, because if he wants $5,000 worth of remodeling on his home, all he has to do is call up any of the reputable contractors and they will send someone out that afternoon and give him a bid and guarantee the work as long as he pays them a third down. "I don't buy that! Are you having problems with legal papers? Is that the only reason ?" Mr. Butler responded that our legal papers have affected in knocking out the fly -by -night contractors that we have been dealing with before. Mr. Caesar asked, "How come I can get a contractor to come to my house and you can't get contractors to bid here ?" Commissioner Wiggins stated because you [Caesar] are not putting out for competitive bidding; you are ask- ing a fellow to come out to give you a price and you have him do it. Mr. Caesar disagreed, stating he would have more than one contractor come over; "I have done it!" "Maybe the Commission ought to publicize this more and do something and not just rely on the news media and blame us for it." Cira added, that is his point. Mr. Caesar said maybe the right contractors have not been contacted, and after all, they are looking for work - -all of them are. It does look awfully suspicious, gentlemen -- Madison Builders - -I'm not charging or anything, but it just looks like he gets all the business. Have the Commissioners ever con- tacted the Building Trade and met with these people:? There are a lot of independent people around too that do work like this that would pro- bably love to get $5,000 jobs; I bet there are 10 independent carpenters that would do this type of work. Commissioner Wiggins suggested he make this a lead story -- "WHERE ARE THE CONTRACTORS AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEED WORK ?" Dan Caesar said: "You got it! Further lengthy conversations followed on this, and the reasons given by JJ: A lot of them don't like the way we pay them; sometimes it takes them two weeks to a month to get their check. They have stated this. - 22 -