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Commissioner Stephanie discloses conflict as county considers sole-source diesel repairs
Summary
At a Houston County Commission meeting, commissioners discussed allowing a commissioner’s family-owned diesel repair shop to service county equipment under a statutory sole-supplier carve-out; officials said a public conflict disclosure was filed and the item will be on the next meeting agenda for formal action.
At a meeting of the Houston County Commission, commissioners discussed a proposal to use a locally owned diesel-repair shop operated by Commissioner Stephanie to service county heavy-duty equipment. Commissioners said Stephanie and her husband run the only heavy-duty diesel repair facility in the county and that she submitted a public conflict-of-interest disclosure so the county can consider contracting with her business under a state carve-out for sole suppliers in rural areas.
One commissioner urged caution, noting potential criminal penalties for undisclosed conflicts but citing that state statute language and an attorney-general opinion include a carve-out for sole suppliers in rural jurisdictions. “The only thing I would advise… if you start seeing your expenses get way up there, it could come into a bidding problem,” the commissioner said, adding the county had checked with the auditor and legal counsel.
Stephanie told the commission she had written a disclosure letter and supplied documentation, including a packet dated May 18 from a state source. “I was told I needed to write this letter so we can disclose it… so it comes to public,” Stephanie said. Commissioners said they would review the documentation and expect to consider formal approval at the next commission meeting on Tuesday; no formal vote was recorded in this session.
County officials flagged two practical safeguards: monitor cumulative annual spending to avoid surpassing competitive-bidding thresholds, and have the auditor or county attorney review contracts that approach or exceed those limits. Commissioners characterized the arrangement as permissible so long as the county documents that the vendor is the sole available provider and stays within bidding limits.
The commission took no final vote at the meeting and instead referred the item for formal consideration at the next scheduled meeting, with staff and legal counsel asked to provide relevant documentation and a drafted resolution.
