Interim County Administrator Doug Eaves presented information on bids to repair the courthouse roof during the August 13 meeting of the Sumter County Commissioners, mentioning several bidders including the low bid CGS. Commissioner Jim Reid expressed concerns about quality. “It defies the law of business that one person can do something 66 cent on the dollar for the next.” Reid questioned references on the bids.

Daryl Dowdell, building and maintenance manager, replied. “Most of those that we called, they were energetic and they said they would use them again.”

Reid commented. “This company may be reputable, but the spread . . .the spread between them and the next qualified bidder.”

Dowdell commented. “I know the lowest bid is not always the best one.” Dowdell stated he had asked about the price, and was told the company worked on many projects, allowing them to get a discount. “He said that they buy their shingles by the truck load.”

Reid replied. “There’re not going to do business with one of our local vendors. Our tax dollars is fixin to go back to Atlanta.” Reid also mentioned that there was negative sentiment with local business over the court house; “because nothing in here was hardly ever sourced locally.”

Dowdell questioned how to bridge the gap. “I think we did all we could to get the local contractors knowledgeable of this project.” He mentioned putting it in the paper and online.

Commissioner Clay Jones commented on the feasibility of finding local contractors. “People are more than likely going to contract it out.”

Commissioner Jones asked about the warranty.

Eaves replied; “five-year labor warranty, unlimited lifetime, it’s prorated after ten years.”

Reid commented on an incident that happened during his first year on the school board concerning the roof of the AS Staley building. “The previous board members, less than ten years earlier, had paid to reroof ASA, in less than ten years, it developed a leak.” He mentioned that the contractor had gone bankrupt, but that there was a bond. “The bonding company was bankrupt too.”

Smith also commented. “You said the company’s qualified.” He responded to concerns over the low price; “we just want to pay more?”

Dowdell offered to inspect the work personally.
Eaves mentioned a way the contract with the bidder could be written to benefit the local economy. “The suggestion is to put in a local purchase requirement.” He also gave an alternative. “Or if it’s not sourced locally, then it has to be shipped to the County to collect sales taxes.”

Baldwin entertained a motion. “The motion is to approve the bid of CGS LCC, $94,329.21, for reroofing the court house.” A condition was made that someone inspect the work independently. Waddell made a motion, seconded by Smith, with only Reid opposed.