Saline County commissioners accepted a bid Tuesday for a truck from Midway Motors, in McPherson, after a higher bid from Salina’s Long McArthur Ford failed to qualify for the county’s local preference policy.
The Saline County Road and Bridge Department accepted bids for a truck to replace one used to pick up parts and supplies, transport employees to and from job sites and transport mail. Road and bridge Administrator Darren Fishel said the current truck is in need of repairs that would cost more than the vehicle is worth.
Midway Motors submitted the lowest bid, $23,221. Long McArthur Ford bid $23,596.36. Two other companies submitted higher bids.
Local preference
Two weeks ago, commissioners approved a policy that states a local bid will be accepted if it is within 1 percent of the low bid; the local bidder agrees to match the low bid by filing a written agreement within 72 hours of notification; and the quality, suitability and usability of the materials or goods are equal.
Commissioners began considering giving preference to local bidders a few months ago after accepting a bid for a vehicle from Midway Motors that was about $60 lower than a bid from Long McArthur Ford. A week later, Long McArthur’s general manager, Derek Lee, expressed his disapproval, saying that his company pays property and sales taxes in Saline County and donated a vehicle for the Saline County Sheriff’s Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education program.
(Read more: News – Salina Journal)