Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/157038
Sarasota News Leader August 23, 2013 Page 35 Additionally, Anderson wrote, representatives of the firm that won the bid in the North Rural Zone — StormTech Inc. — had notified staff of their intentions to end their services and dissolve the business. Again, MegaMowers had accepted the proposed award of a contract for the area, at a higher cost of $174,709.28. That contract also will come before the commission on Aug. 27. On June 18, Anderson noted that Mainscape had been the third vendor to fail in the North Urban Zone over the past year. Finally, Anderson wrote, Jackson Landscape also had abandoned its contract in the South Residential Zone; that occurred on July 24. Reynolds Mowing Services — the first available alternate vendor — accepted a temporary assignment in that zone, he continued. It began work the first week of August in the areas Jackson Landscape had failed to complete. However, Barbetta took the opportunity then to raise the issue of the specs. Anderson's response was that all three of the firms that had to withdraw were inexperienced in right of way mowing, though they seemed to have sufficient personnel and equipment. When Vice Chairman Charles Hines asked whether that indicated a problem with that particular zone, Anderson replied, "It's the only zone where we've had a recurring vendor that's been new to roadside mowing." Commissioner Christine Robinson said, however, that Anderson told her other counties The Reynolds Mowing contract also will come are experiencing similar problems. before the County Commission on Aug. 27. It "We do have a high amount of acreage that we will be $357,957.60 higher than the Jackson mow here," she added. "That helped me put it Landscape bid. into perspective a little bit." Barbetta pointed out to the News Leader that Anderson noted in the Aug. 16 email, "I am rewhenever he sees a "huge discrepancy in bids, questing information from several of our Comthere's usually a problem." parable Counties on their costs and contract processes for similar services. This informaDISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK tion is expected to be helpful in understandAnderson met with each of the commissioners ing the commonality of these issues across separately on Aug. 21 to apprise them of the Counties." latest problems. The "one-on-one" discussions are necessary to prevent violations of Flori- Patterson told the News Leader Anderson had indicated to her the latest problems were da's Sunshine Laws. more examples of companies thinking the Barbetta pointed out to the News Leader jobs were smaller than they actually were, and that Anderson "inherited the whole process," the firms were "unable to break even, much adding that the county had had problems for less make a profit." some time before County Administrator Reid put Anderson in charge of the Field Services Unfortunately, by having to hire the second- or Office — and the mowing contracts. "The third-low bidders to handle the work, Patterspecs probably aren't written properly," Bar- son added, the county incurs more expenses betta said. than it had planned on for the budget.