Area citizens question city council about bid process

HARTINGTON — Monday's Hartington City Council meeting looked and sounded more like a TV courtroom drama, then a governmental meeting.

Council members were grilled by area residents on some of their recent decisions and about their decision-making process.

Jamie Arens got on the agenda to share his concerns over how and when the city seeks bids for projects.

Several other residents also wanted to share their concerns about the city's recent decision on a lease-to-purchase agreement to buy and move the Skylon Ballroom. That issue was not on the agenda, however, and audience members were told it would not be discussed at the meeting.

Arens said he grew concerned after he learned the city had agreed to have hail damage repairs made to the Hartington golf course clubhouse Bids for the project came in at around $32,000.

Arens said because the project came in at over $30,000, the city was in violation of state law, which requires any project of $30,000 or more to publish a notice seeking bids.

Arens said he sought out opinions from individual Council members, the Mayor, City Clerk and City Attorney, but didn't feel like he was getting a consistent answer, so he wanted the issue to be on the City Council's meeting agenda. That way, he said, the Council could speak with one voice on the issue.

City Attorney Nikki Brandt said after speaking to Arens, and reviewing the issue, the Council did indeed inadvertantly exceed the $30,000 limit and should have published a request for bids.

This action was unintentional, she said, and she and the Council will take steps to make sure something like this does not happen again.

Arens said he was also concerned about how the city seeks bids for projects under the $30,000 cap.

'By state law, if it's under $30,000, no formal bidding process is required, so the city will take bids from anyone who wants to give them,' Brandt said. 'It is not our job to make sure that every contractor in the state is aware we are doing a project. That's how second-class cities in Nebraska work.'

Councilman Colin Kathol said people often seek him out to put in a bid on a project.

'People looked at the meeting minutes and saw that we were looking at doing something (and asked to bid it,)' he said.

Arens said he felt the city was not treating its citizens or businesses fairly with their current bid policy.

Councilman Kathol disagreed, saying the city is doing all it can to be fair and honest.

'I try to do what I think is best for this community, based on my knowledge. Am I an expert, hell no. None of us up here are experts at anything, but what we are trying to do is sort through the information that is given to us and then do the best we can. Do I understand all of the laws that (involve) sitting in this seat, absolutely not. So, when you say that I deliberately went out and broke the law, no I didn't deliberately go out and break the law. I'm trying to make the best decision I can. People from this community trust me to do the best job that I can. You can sit here and beat us up all day long, but the bottom line is I'm trying to do the best job that I can for this city and if you've got a problem with that, don't vote for me next time — don't give me your vote.'