During a recent government meeting, council members expressed significant concerns regarding a towing services bid that revealed a staggering 46% cost increase from a single responding vendor. The discussion highlighted the challenges of securing competitive bids, as only one out of 70 contacted vendors submitted a proposal.

Councilman Turner raised questions about the feasibility of the bid, emphasizing the need for a thorough review of the vendor outreach process. He inquired whether the vendor list was up-to-date and accurate, suggesting that a scrub of the list might be necessary to ensure effective communication with potential bidders.

The city manager clarified that the bid amount was based on historical spending, which averaged around $43,130 over the past 11 years. However, with the new bid set at $100,000, the projected expenditure for towing services could rise to approximately $62,780 this year, should the trend continue.

In light of the substantial increase and lack of competition, council members expressed discomfort with proceeding under the current circumstances. A motion was made to table the item for further review and to explore the possibility of re-bidding the contract. The council ultimately voted to reject the current bid, allowing staff to gather additional information and potentially seek new bids that could offer more favorable terms for the city.