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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2004
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Barker Brothers Retains Contract in 4-2 Split of Council |
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Barker Brothers Waste Inc. stood on quality of service
and the company's standing as valuable contributor to
the local economy to win the bid for local waste pickup
despite the submission of a bid containing mathematical
errors and the first-glance appearance of being high
bidder in a contest with Houston, Texas based Waste
Management, Inc. Barker Brothers is based in Troy,
Tennessee.
The solid waste contract was the final item of a lengthy
agenda during the Thursday, March 25 regular session of
the McKenzie City Council, which was attended by about
ten local employees of Barker Brothers in addition to
Brian Barker, owner of the enterprise.
Councilmember Darra Adkins remarked, before the reading
of the bids, that the mayor of Humboldt had given her
permission to quote him in relaying that, having
previously contracted with both companies, he is
"extraordinarily pleased with the service he's getting
from Barker Brothers (as Humboldt's current waste
contractor.)"
Mayor Walter Winchester related the five-year proposals
of each company as follows, with base figures
represented as per residential unit, per month: Waste
Management, Inc: Year 1: $7.20; Year 2: $7.34; Year 3:
$7.49; Year 4: $7.64; and Year 5: $7.79. Barker
Brother's totals were: Year 1: $7.25; Year 2: $7.40;
Year 3: $7.55; Year 4: $7.71; and Year 5: $7.81.
Council members were not provided copies of the bids
submitted by the two companies, necessitating the
request of Vice-mayor Gene Hale to look over the mayor's
copy, after which he reported mathematical errors in the
first and fifth year bids submitted by Barker Brothers.
The errors came about in the addition of amounts
submitted for (1) collection of solid waste residential
unit (per unit per month) and (2) disposal of solid
waste residential unit (per unit per month). The
intended bid for the first year was $7.00 ($5.00 for
collection and $2.00 for disposal) and for the fifth
year $7.87 ($5.50 for collection and $2.37 for
disposal.)
Asked by Hale whether the council was obligated to view
the errors as they should have been or as they were
reported, City Attorney Kent Jones responded, "You have
to take the bottom line; you can't reconstruct the bid."
Citing the company has a transfer station located in
town and employs local people who "do extra" work,
Adkins asked, "Does the law say we have to take the
lowest bid?"
Jones advised, "You have to accept the best and lowest
bid... I personally think you're stuck with the low bid;
if you don't do the low bid, you're probably going to
set city up for litigation."
He also chided Barker Brothers, questioning how a
company could submit a bid containing errors. "You're
talking about thousands and thousands of dollars," he
said.
Sounding somewhat frustrated, Hale again requested
access to the bid sheets. "Can I review that?" he asked,
reaching for the documents.
"After looking over the bids I can't deny the service
we've had but the savings is..." he began, but was
interrupted when the mayor requested a sidebar with the
attorney, after which the council suspended the rules
and recessed in order to recognize Mr. Barker.
Allowing he was agreeable for the bid to stand
regardless of error, Barker stated his company spends "a
tremendous amount of money" in the local economy, citing
$16,000 expended last year with local vendors, about
$6,000 per year in property taxes, over $100,000 in fuel
from which Carroll County received taxes, and around
$800,000 in wages for employees at the McKenzie transfer
station.
In addition to "outstanding service over the last ten
years as the city attorney has said," he stated, the
company's expenditures "should have some bearing on your
decision."
He further stated the company had won other contracts in
which it was high bidder, citing Covington as an
example.
Not communicated to council members, however, were the
companies' base bid statements, which, in the case of
Waste Management, Inc., stated only: "Pick-up shall be
once weekly at curbside in roll out containers, garbage
only," while Barker Brother's bid read: "Pick-up shall
be once weekly at curbside in roll out containers and
once weekly at curbside for rubbish, yard waste, and
bulky waste. Containers furnished by Contractor."
Councilmember James Knolton made the motion to award the
bid to Barker Brothers, followed by a second from
Adkins. In a four-two split, voting yes on the measure
was Vice-mayor Hale and Councilmember Wade Allen in
addition to Knolton and Adkins. Voting no were Willie
Huffman and Jerry Arthur.
The new contract begins 1 June.
FUNERAL ESCORTS TO CEASE
McKenzie Police Department will no longer provide
escorts for funeral processions following the unanimous
approval of the council to discontinue the procedure.
Police officers will block all intersections along the
procession route in order to assist with traffic
control, according to the newly approved policy based
upon the recommendation of Police Chief Harry Cooper.
In another police issue, the council approved the
purchase of up to 12 new protective vests (body armor)
to replace old-style, bulky and cumbersome models
currently in use. The new-style vest were described as
being much like a t-shirt that can be "balled up" and
pulled on easily without restricting movement.
Winchester stated drug fund money can be used to
purchase some vests and that city officials are "working
on a grant" to purchase additional vests.
Cooper advised body armor would become mandatory
effective April 1 following the advice of the Tennessee
Municipal League Risk Management Pool.
Additionally, the council approved the adoption of the
Special Response Team policy and procedure manual.
(more in print edition) |
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Christian Rally Attracts 400 Youth |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Where will you find 400 area youth on a Monday night?
Try a Christian youth rally. The Carroll County Civic
Center was the venue Monday for a high-energy,
come-to-Jesus rally led by 180 Degrees Ministry of
Murfreesboro.
Steve Austin led the service, which was complete with a
dynamic band, dramatic productions, and a convincing
message from Austin to find Jesus. Austin leads the
full-time evangelistic program known as 180 Degrees
Ministries, which operates to help individuals make a
180 turn toward God. Austin, a 1988 graduate of Crockett
County High School and later Trevecca Nazarene
University, once led a life far from Jesus. He rebelled
against God and family, took drugs, and sought the
sinful pleasures of life. He soon found that God still
loved him and Austin's life was changed when he attended
a youth rally in Memphis.
Carroll-Benton Baptist Association sponsored the event
at the Civic Center on Monday. Jimmy Furr, director, was
thrilled with the attendance of more than 400 youth.
Furr said the event started with free pizza at 6:00 p.m.
The program started at 7:00 and the attentive audience
remained until the closing benediction at 9:00 p.m.
In each chair was a small paper cross. Austin asked the
youth to write their name on the black cross, pin it to
any of the symbolic wooden cross lining the walls, and
then take a white paper cross to symbolize a
transformation in their lives. "I know God wants to do
some business in this place tonight," said Austin.
Austin is the son of Jim and Delma Austin of Camden. |
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Annual Prayer Breakfast |
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Kellye Cash, Miss America 1987, will be the guest
speaker of the 2004 Carroll County Chamber of Commerce
Annual Prayer Breakfast.
The Chamber prayer breakfast will be held on Thursday,
April 15 at 7:30 a.m. at the Family Life Center of the
First Baptist Church in Huntingdon.
"The Chamber's annual prayer breakfast is one of the
high points of the year," said Melissa Powell, chairman
of the Chamber's Board of Directors. "The breakfast is
an annual event where the Chamber invites members and
others to come together in prayer for each other, for
our communities and for our country. We are excited to
have Kellye Cash as guest speaker."
Since her year as Miss America, Kellye has appeared
nationally on the David Letterman Show, Live with Regis
and Kathie Lee, the Trinity Broadcasting Network and
more. She has performed with numerous musical artists
including Vince Gill, Lee Greenwood and Billy Joel and
has performed in many regional theatrical productions;
she was recently chosen for the lead part of country
music legend Patsy Cline, in Always...Patsy Cline. In
addition to making approximately 100 appearances each
year at charitable, community and political events.
Kellye is actively pursuing her Christian music career,
having recently released her third CD entitled Real
Life. She and her husband Todd have three children and
reside in Milan.
Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased by
contacting the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce at
986-4664. The last day to purchase tickets will be on
Tuesday, April 13 at 10:00 a.m. If you have any
questions, please contact the Chamber office at
986-4664. |
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DCPAC Construction Expedited with $1,700,000 Loan |
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Construction on the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center
will begin in the new future following actions taken by
the Huntingdon Town Council during their Tuesday, March
23 regular meeting.
Based on the recommendation of the construction manager,
the council approved the acceptance of some bids and the
rejection of others. Following a review of bids opened
on February 27 and March 5, the architect and
construction manager indicated the total cost of the
project to be some $3,650,955 including the contract
bids, materials and costs of construction manager:
Barger Construction Company, however, town-requested
modifications brought the cost down to $3,229,445.
In addition to funding provided though $1,550,000 in
grants and donations (a $1 million Local parks and
Recreation Fund grant, a $300,000 TEA-21 grant, and a
$250,000 donation from Norandal, U.S.A.), the council on
Tuesday approved two resolutions that would allow the
town to enter into a $1,700,000 22-year loan with the
Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund.
The first resolution authorized the incurrence of
indebtedness not to exceed $1,700,000 with a public
building authority to provide funding for the project
and incidental expenses related to the project, while
the second resolution approved the execution and
delivery of one or more loan agreements for the purpose
of providing funds to finance the project.
Kelley stressed the town would continue to search for
foundation grants and other sources of revenue which
could be applied to the loan, lowering the principal,
shortening the term of the loan and lowering the cost of
daily-calculated interest.
"This will in no way impair our ability to continue to
fund our departments and provide the quality of service
our citizens deserve," he stated. "It appears the timing
is great for the project to begin. Grants are in place,
interest rates are low as we have ever experienced, and
many projects are coming together for Huntingdon and
Carroll County. The Dixie Carter Performing Arts And
Academic Enrichment Center project, the downtown
revitalization project, the development of Industrial
park South and the Carroll County Watershed lake project
all have a great economic impact on Huntingdon and
Carroll County."(more in print edition) |
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These stories and more exclusively
in the print edition: |
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- Very Special Arts Wows Carroll County in 21st Year
- Candidates Qualify, Obtain Petitions
- McKenzie National Guard to Host Community
Awareness Day
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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