A proposed amendment would have added Knox County’s new administrative building to the existing performance contract with Mechanical Services Inc.
But after some pushback, the board voted 8-4 at its regular meeting Wednesday to table the amendment.
To alleviate space issues at the courthouse, the county acquired the former Wells Fargo bank building at 50 E. Main St. in Galesburg and plans to move some non-judicial offices there.
A couple board members questioned extending MSI’s current performance contract to the new building without bidding it out.
“Is there a reason that it cannot go out for bid? I mean, obviously there's no emergency,” said Cheryl Nache, D-District 1. “So what is the harm in it going out for bid? Because it is taxpayer money.”
Former county board member David Amor spoke during public comment, saying he was closely involved with the creation of the initial performance contract with MSI several years ago.
“MSI has had a good run for the past three years but I don't think it's a good idea to stick with the same vendor for too long. Competition is a good thing as I'm sure you'll all agree. It gives all of our local and regional vendors an opportunity to show what they can do,” Amor said.
Infrastructure Committee Chair Bob Bondi, R-District 2, made the motion to table the amendment.
All six Democrats on the board voted to table the amendment, as did Bondi and Brian Friedrich, R-District 5.
The proposed amendment to the performance contract was not included in the packet of board materials made available to the public on the county’s website.
Also speaking during public comment was Gavin Philip of AMP Companies. He also encouraged the county to bid it out.
AMP’s bid for the county's maintenance contract last year was lower than MSI’s hourly rate, overtime rate, and materials markup. But it was thrown out due to a lack of signature and lack of Dalkin certification included in the bid.
“I don't care if you're a Democratic, Republican, whatever,” Philips told the board. “It's not right. You have to have competitive bidding.”
This story has been updated to correct references to performance and maintenance contracts.
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