BCC Decision on Awarding Bids

[Bdarg]

So you believe that someone has to be paid off to get into office? I am just asking the questions here. I do not have an opinion at this time either way. I was at the first meeting when their was a question about the percentage of the contract that was being subbed. Ryan Douglas was recommending not to give it to the low bidder because they did not respond to a letter. The low bidder stated he did not know anything about the letter, the BCC tabled the matter because Ryan did not have a copy of the letter with him.

As for why someone would want any elected job, my reason would be to try to change some of these things that are constantly being brought up because I find them very aggravating and frustrating. And, for the life of me, do not understand how government can be so inefficient at what it has to do.

The founding fathers devised our system of government to be highly inefficient. The inefficiency is built right in.

What is the old saying about if you want to get something done give it to the person that is swamped already. If you want to make sure something never gets done, give it to the largest committee that you can muster. Why else would congress have 435 members?

The founding fathers had the idea, more or less, that the inefficiency would bring about greater ideas and ideals, through thought, care and debate.

 

[wrobert]

Under current sunshine laws, if you meet with just 1 County Commissioner at a time, no matter how many times you do it, or what deals you work out behind closed doors, your meetings are private.

I think that any meeting about official business should be public record (especially if $ is getting passed under the table).

Sort of ran the two rants together. Oddly something I posted at midnight wasn't 100% clear :funn:

But not everyone running is an already elected official.

I thought the dollars were usually passed out in No. 10 washtubs.

 

[wrobert]

The founding fathers devised our system of government to be highly inefficient. The inefficiency is built right in.

What is the old saying about if you want to get something done give it to the person that is swamped already. If you want to make sure something never gets done, give it to the largest committee that you can muster. Why else would congress have 435 members?

The founding fathers had the idea, more or less, that the inefficiency would bring about greater ideas and ideals, through thought, care and debate.

Inefficiency in principal. But in day to day activities? A guy I know has requested a financial report from the school district and asked that they drop it off via their courier at BES. The report was done on Wednesday, it should arrive at BES in Monday or Tuesday. That is the inefficiency I speak too.

 

[wrobert]

just about everything in Florida about how one conducts oneself once in elected office......and so it shouldhave some bearing on decisions one makes about running.....

Once elected. But a layman running is not subject to these laws until elected.

 

[NotDeadYet]

From WZEP News:

Walton To Create Purchasing Ordinance Giving Local Preference

The Walton Commissioners approved moving forward with creating a county purchasing ordinance for goods and services. This would include establishing a local preference as well as other policies. Commissioners were told, according to the information provided by the finance department, a 3% preference would mean about a $150,000 annual cost to the county. The County Attorney?s office suggested a 2% preference.

An example was given where a lowest bid was at $99,000 and the second lowest bid was at $100,000. If the first business was not local in the county and had no office with employees in the county and the second did, the $100,000 second lowest bid would be looked at as a $98,000 bid, thus becoming the lowest as far as the bid process. The cost to the county come when they will not pay $98,000, but the actual $100,000 bid, costing $1000 more than the actual lowest bid.

The recommendation was to define a local business as one located in Walton County or has an office or facility in Walton that regularly employees people in Walton. Commissioners said they especially want to work with businesses that put money back into Walton by employing Walton residents. Commissioner Cindy Meadows said there are employees who do work in Walton but come from outside the County. She said they still spend money in Walton.

 

[Smiling JOe]

...and without having that local preference in place when awarding the bid on this Morrison Springs project, they should have given the bid as promised, to the low bidder.

I think the local preference, with limits, is a good thing, but the County is back@sswards in the way they operate and make decisions. Grandpa always said, "don't put the cart before the mule." I bet some of these Commissioners could learn a thing or two from an old man like my grandpa.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Speaking of ethics and morals, do County Officers have to go through and educational training on ethics and morals? If they do, maybe they should increase the required number of hours to keep their position.

 

[scooterbug44]

The local preference is a good idea in theory, but in reality they just added another layer of headaches and skullduggery!

Based on their definition of local, someone could form a LLC w/ a local PO box, pay me $1 and get a preference because they are a "local" business and employ a local!