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Bid board approves invoices, reduces sidewalk-blowing to once weekly after contract confusion
Summary
La Porte bid board approved four MP Lawn Care LLC invoices totaling $1,904 and voted to reduce routine sidewalk blowing to once weekly after a staff review found the service agreement charges $476 per service and the twice-weekly blowing would sharply raise costs.
The La Porte City Bid Board on May (called to order at 5:10 p.m.) voted to approve pending invoices from MP Lawn Care LLC and to reduce routine sidewalk blowing to once weekly after staff said the contractor’s service agreement charges $476 per service, meaning two blows per week would add substantial recurring cost.
Jamie, a board member who had been covering bills in the absence of the finance lead, read the agreement into the record and presented four invoices from MP Lawn Care totaling $1,904 with invoice dates 04/20, 04/23, 04/30 and 05/04. She told the board the written contract lists a per-service price of $476 and that the contractor treats each sidewalk blowing as a separate charge rather than including two blows within a single weekly service.
"I am asking for permission tonight to stop 2 blowing of the sidewalks because at this point I'm not sure that we can afford approximately $1,000 a week for the sidewalk blowing," Jamie said, explaining the board’s current funds are limited.
John, speaking for finance, said the city expects its usual property-tax draw of roughly $80,000–$85,000 but that available funds were limited (about $68,000 as of April), and the board should avoid costly disputes over ambiguous contract language. "We're not gonna sue over an ambiguous contract term," he said, urging a practical adjustment to services rather than litigation.
After discussion, John moved to approve the pending vouchers and to change routine sidewalk blowing to once weekly; the chair seconded the motion, members voted by voice and the motion carried.
The board did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; the vote was recorded as a voice vote and the chair announced the motion carried. Jamie said contractors had agreed to make special cleanups for events or severe debris at the per-service rate if needed.
The move reduces the regular scope of weekly contractor work and places greater emphasis on coordinating with the city’s street sweeper and street department to manage debris. Jamie said she will circulate copies of the service agreement and the invoices to board members for further review and to guide future procurement and oversight.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 8.
