Resident alleges missing bids on Gator change orders for dredging work

Moses Todd, a resident identifying his address as 2747 Deans Bridal Road, told the commission on Sept. 2 that he believes the county expanded dredging contracts with Waterfront Property Services (Gator) without seeking proposals or bids. "The issue is a $1,200,000 change order, and a large percentage of that being public works project that's given to them were that did not go out for proposals or bids," Todd said during the public-comment portion.

Todd raised additional concerns about mobilization and demobilization charges he described as "approximately 300 plus thousand dollars" and questioned whether the expansions complied with state or federal law. "It's my opinion that we're violating possibly state and federal law by extending these contracts or expanding these contracts without going out for proposals," he said. He urged the commission to investigate or to seek corrective action.

City staff subsequently presented a related agenda item (item 11) to the commission — a supplemental task under an existing RFQ-based contract for dredging at Turknik Spring — and procurement staff confirmed the original contract had been procured under an RFQ process. Procurement Director Penick said, "I have the original contract here. Looks like it was procured correctly." Engineering staff said the supplemental work was released water body by water body under the original RFQ. The commission approved the supplemental funding at the same meeting.

Todd asked the commission to take action if necessary; he said, "Perhaps a lawsuit would be an order in federal court over violation of, public works bid process."