Council approves $90,000 phase‑2 mowing contract after reference concerns about apparent low bidder

Moore City Council on March 17 approved awarding Bid No. 2025-11 for phase 2 of the public works mowing contract for $90,000. City staff told the council that while four bids were received, checks of the apparent lowest bidder’s references showed repeated schedule failures and trash left in mowed areas, and staff recommended awarding to the second-lowest responsive bidder.

City staff (Speaker 6) said they contacted about six references and received feedback from one owner who rated the problematic bidder “about a 4” on a 1-to-10 scale and reported the contractor had its contract terminated. “They did not pick up trash in paper cups before they mowed. They mowed over them, leaving quite a mess,” staff said. Based on that evaluation, staff recommended awarding to the next lowest responsive bidder (name transcribed in the record as “Tuscanua”).

A council member moved to approve the contract; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with council members present voting yes. The contract term presented in the meeting is five years with annual renewal coming to council and the option to add up to five additional one‑year extensions; annual increases would be tied to the Southern Region Consumer Price Index as described by staff.

The council’s action was procedural and final at the meeting; no additional conditions or amendments to the award were recorded in the transcript.