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Council awards $37,000 Ely Cemetery tree contract amid licensing and pricing questions
Summary
The Ely City Council awarded a $37,000 contract to LG Tree Services to remove two large trees, grind stumps and prune 15 trees at Ely Cemetery under a Nevada Division of Forestry grant; members debated the price and licensing rules for tree contractors before voting unanimously to award.
The Ely City Council on Jan. 8 awarded a $37,000 contract to LG Tree Services to remove two large, complex trees, grind the stumps and prune 15 additional trees at City'owned Ely Cemetery under a Nevada Division of Forestry grant.
City Clerk Jennifer Lee presented the bid tabulation and noted a remaining grant overage; Public Works Director Mike Cracraft and staff recommended awarding the work to LG Tree Services, which submitted the apparent low, qualified bid. Councilman Dennis Perea questioned the premium relative to national prices and whether the City should encourage outside competition if local bids remain high; the Council discussed advertising and outreach to licensed contractors.
Council members also sought clarity on licensing. Councilman Terrill Trask asked whether a C-10 contractor's license was required for tree removal on projects over $1,000. Levi Garcia, owner of LG Tree Services, told the Council he had researched the matter with the Nevada State Contractors Board and said "within the scope of tree work in Nevada, you do not need a C-10 Contractor's License." He added that LG Tree Services carries bonding and insurance and holds a certified arborist on staff. "You're going to get a premium service out of me, I promise you that," Garcia told the Council, defending the bid price.
Council members acknowledged the importance of keeping work local while noting cost pressures; after discussion the motion to award the contract to LG Tree Services carried unanimously.
The City will proceed with the awarded contractor under the terms of the Nevada Division of Forestry procurement and the grant; staff indicated they would seek additional quotes for separate, smaller tree work using remaining grant funds where appropriate.
