Finance committee approves two-year grass-cutting contracts to lowest bidders after debate

The Tangipahoa Parish finance committee voted Jan. 27 to award two-year grass-cutting contracts to the lowest bidders after members debated whether to keep incumbent vendors on some school sites.

Staff provided bid tabs showing low quotes and current contractors and told the committee there were no problems with performance in the last year. A committee member moved to accept the lowest quote for each group to help ensure prudent use of public funds.

Several members objected to awarding a large number of contracts to a single vendor, saying that one company would take on many schools and risk overextension. "I don't think we ought to give 7 schools to 1 person when we have people already there in place that are doing a good job," one member said, urging protection for incumbent vendors in specific groups.

An amendment was offered to keep current contractors for certain groups (for example, Family Tradition Service on groups 10 and 13). That amendment was seconded, discussed and put to a vote; it failed. The committee then returned to the original motion and approved awarding the contracts to the lowest-quoted vendors; the vote included one or more abstentions but the motion carried.

The committee noted that whatever the committee decides will be brought to the full board for final action.

No contract awards were signed during the meeting; the committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the full board.