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Sole‑source engineering contract for city solar array fails on tie vote
Summary
A requested sole‑source award to Clark Dietz Inc. for engineering work on the planned municipal solar array failed after committee members voiced procurement concerns and the vote resulted in no majority.
The Wausau Finance Committee on Dec. 9 considered a late sole‑source request to hire Clark Dietz Inc. to provide engineering professional services for the city's planned solar array but the motion failed when members recorded opposing votes.
Alder Greiner said the city had recently updated its procurement policy and questioned pushing a sole‑source contract without soliciting competing bids. Committee members discussed grant timing and a possible federal tax credit: staff and members noted a $2.8 million budget line for the array and an expected federal grant decision and a roughly $1.18 million potential federal contribution from a competitive process. One member stressed the need to act before a July deadline to preserve a 30% tax credit but also cautioned that new domestic‑sourcing rules effective after July could affect eligible equipment.
A motion to approve the sole‑source award was moved and supported in part, but two members recorded nays (Greiner and Tierney) and the chair stated the motion failed for lack of a majority. The chair indicated uncertainty about next procedural steps.
The committee did not approve a sole‑source engineering contract and the solar array procurement will require further work and clarification of grant and procurement timing.
