Monday, 26 April 2010 06:12

Ione Rejects Lawn Mower Bid of $33,000

slide4-_ione_rejects_lawn_mower_bid_of_33000.pngAmador County – The Ione City Council rejected a bid for $33,000 to care for the entrance of Castle Oaks Subdivision, from Castle Oaks Drive and Highway 104, to the entrance of Castle Oaks Golf Course. City Manager Kim Kerr said only one company submitted a bid for the work. The Bid was $33,000 for a year’s work, and the bidder also did not fully meet all of the requirements of the “request for proposals.” Kerr recommended the council reject the bid, tweak the request for proposals, and send it out again. Requests for proposals were sent to all landscaping companies with Ione business licenses. She said the council could also look at hiring an employee for probably less than 20 hours a week to handle the work. The city would also have to buy a push mower, and should look at prices for that purchase. Kerr said for $33,000, she “would never recommend signing that contract.” JTS Communities has been maintaining the area, and before 2006, the city contracted the work with Simmons Landscaping. JTS notified the city recently that it will no longer maintain the area at their expense, and offered to continue to do the work, if the city would pay costs. JTS estimated the work to be 8 hours a week to keep up the grass and plants, including fertilizing the area regularly at a cost of about $12,000. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.