Lincoln County commissioners have traditionally opened bids during regular public board meeting but its recent meeting saw a departure from the norm.
It became apparent during their Feb. 17 meeting before bids went out, a predetermined time and date at the Sheriff’s Office was set for opening and examining bids for four new police cruisers for the department, according to County Administrator John O’Connell.
“We didn’t see them (the bids) at all before they went out,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell said Sheriff Todd Brackett presented five of the six bids received to the board. O’Connell said Brackett told the board he did not present the sixth bid because it was determined not to be worthy of consideration.
However, at the request of the board, Brackett brought the sixth bid to the county office later for the board’s consideration of all six bids, according to O’Connell.
“We did not talk to the Sheriff after the bid was returned,” he said.
The incident caused the board to discuss sentiments about how bids should be sent out and opened. “It was clarified that all bids from all departments would be opened by the board at the board meetings,” O’Connell said.
At the Feb. 17 meeting, the board decided to table further discussion of the bids until the next meeting.
“Discussion of the bids will be continued,” he said. “It will be done appropriately this coming Tuesday.”
The dealerships submitting bids for the four cruisers include Quirk Ford, Wiscasset Ford, Rowe Ford, Newcastle Chrysler, Darling’s, and O’Connor’s.
The purchase of four cruisers will replace four older ones. O’Connell said the county routinely purchases new ones to keep the fleet police cruisers updated.
Board meetings have been regularly held the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m.
