Griffith Kawasaki’s bid of $7,265 each for the pair of 2010 all-terrain vehicles was chosen over out-of-state rival Dal Kawa Cycle Center, Inc. of Hendersonville, N.C. Dal Kawa offered bids on two models — $6,848.24 for a 2009 model and $7,448.24 for a 2011 model. Along with its 2010 model bid, Griffith also submitted a $7,465 price for a 2011 model.
Both businesses were original bidders, but the City Council authorized a rebid after local owners Glen and Christy Griffith told the Council they felt they had been treated unfairly during a 10-month period of assisting the police department at a cost of $569.
The Council sympathized with the local business and promptly authorized a rebid of the ATV package. To do so, the city paid an $1,800 settlement to Dal Kawa in order to avoid a breach-of-contract lawsuit. Both businesses submitted a second series of bids which were opened June 15, but this time the Griffith package was favored.
At the Council’s 4 p.m. voting session, District 4 Councilman David May Jr. made the motion. He said the Griffith bid is the best value for the municipality because it it is a 2010 model. He was seconded by At-Large Councilman George Poe. Council members approved the motion on a 7-0 vote.
The Council’s vote went against staff’s recommendation. In the bid summary presented to Council members, the purchasing committee again recommended the Dal Kawa bid, but this was overturned by the Council which felt the Griffith package was “the appropriate bid.” Dal Kawa’s bid was lowest on the 2009 and 2011 models, but the Griffith bid was lowest on the 2010.
Police Chief Wesley Snyder said the ATVs will be used in areas like the Greenway and Fletcher Park where patrol cars have limited access.
City Manager Janice Casteel said the ATVs will be purchased with Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant money that has been awarded to the municipality.
It was a full Monday afternoon of bid considerations as the City Council also:
- Awarded a laundry and dry cleaning bid to Champion Cleaners.
- Awarded a tires and tubes bid for municipal vehicles to Tires & Tubes.
- Awarded an HVAC Maintenance Service contract to Mechanical Systems.
- At staff’s recommendation, rejected bids for uniforms for the Public Works Department due to budgetary constraints.
- Approved a rebid for two sport-utility vehicles because no sealed bids were received by the advertised bid date and time. The vehicles will be rebid July 15 at 2 p.m.
- Awarded a sidewalks bid to Black Construction of Cleveland for $150,110. The sidewalks will be constructed along Walker Street, Central Avenue, First Street and Edwards Street.
- Awarded a thermoplastic markings (street, intersection, crosswalk and turn lane arrows) bid to Volunteer Highway Supply of Knoxville.
- Awarded a curb, gutter and sidewalk maintenance bid to Black Construction.
In a pair of unrelated developments Monday, the City Council approved the rezoning of 125 North St. N.W. and 4695 Fairfield Farm Road N.E. from R1 Single Family Residential to CH Highway Commercial at the request of Andrew Thompson and as recommended by the Cleveland Municipal Planning Commission.
City Council also amended current zoning regulations so that in cases where sites are constrained for space, a fractional space in the required parking calculation may be omitted from the site development. This action too was approved previously by the Planning Commission.
