Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County offered Wells Fargo building; county attorney flags competitive‑bidding language
Summary
RML Rentals LLC offered to donate the Wells Fargo building to the county for consolidated services, but County Attorney Morgan Smith said contract language that conditions work on a named contractor may conflict with state competitive-sealed-bid rules for construction exceeding $80,000, prompting further legal review before the item is placed on a vote.
CEO Bill Everett described a proposal from RML Rentals LLC to donate the Wells Fargo building, calling the structure well‑located and noting the county is paying about $22,000 annually in rent for under 1,000 square feet of office space. Everett said roughly $1,000,000 in improvements would be needed to make the building usable — about half of that for an elevator — and argued the building could serve as a central financial/service hub for county operations.
County Attorney Morgan Smith said she has a statutory concern with proposed contract language that appears to guarantee a particular contractor for construction work. "As the statute language states that any construction work over $80,000.00 would require competitive sealed bid," she said, and she has contacted MACo and the County Attorneys Association for guidance. Commissioner Ed Beaudette said contract condition C raised red flags and could effectively award work to a known contractor; staff and legal counsel agreed to obtain outside guidance and return with clearer language before the Commission considers final action. Rex Leipheimer, representing RML Rentals LLC, said the donation was intended for the community and that he did not want contract language to impede the gift.
