An inadvertent error in the bid process at the City of St. Joseph will shift parking lot repairs in the city’s central business district from a Niles company to one in Benton Harbor if the City Commission rescinds action taken last month as is being recommended by city staff members.
St. Joseph Public Works Director Tom MacDonald says that when the commission approved a proposal last month from Bailey Asphalt of Niles to complete repairs to four downtown parking lots, staff failed to note that Arnt Asphalt of Benton Harbor had provided two options, both of which were clearly listed on the resultant composite bid sheet used to determine the low bid. Both Arnt bids were listed, but the higher of their two options was used by staff in the comparison process to determine the low bid instead of the lower.
Staff members, as a result, are asking the commission tonight to rescind the project award to Bailey Asphalt and approve instead the lower option from Arnt Asphalt, which — at $46,025.00 — saves the city taxpayers an additional $6,000.00
MacDonald says that Bailey Asphalt “was promptly informed of the error when it was discovered, and was very gracious and understanding, which we very much appreciate.” He adds, “We regret the error and any inconvenience, but are thankful that it was caught and corrected.”
Bailey’s bid of $52,480 will be set aside, and Arnt’s accepted if the commission acts tonight on the issue as requested by staff when they meet at city hall. The higher of Arnt’s two options came in at $55,570, making it higher than Bailey’s, and the lower of their options had been forgotten.
