Livingston County Administration indicated there is an on-going need for construction management services for minor projects (under $25,000). To address this on-going need the Administration asked several construction management firms to provide bids for this service. At the completion of the bid process, the Administration drafted Resolution 2019-07-102, seeking approval from the Board of Commissioners to enter into contracts with the top firms.

The language of Resolution 2019-07-102 was such that the Administration could pay up to a 10% markup for construction management services. I objected to this language as the low bidder provided a quote of 5%. (Two other bidders provided a quote of 10%.) My objection was further amplified as the low bidder was also the highest performing company as rated by County staff. I did not see the rationale behind paying twice as much as we need to when the low bidder was also the highest performer.

During the July 15, 2019 meeting of the Board of Commissioners, I made a motion to amend the Resolution to limit the markup to 5%, thus saving taxpayer dollars. I opined that the other two companies should match the low bid if they wanted our business. Unfortunately, my amendment did not pass and the Board accepted the 10% mark up by a vote of 7 to 1. I was the lone dissenting vote.