Show TRUCK BID ISSUE ISSUE I IN STALEMATE City officials and representatives tives of the Kenworth company of Seattle Seattle- Thursday were stalemated stalemated stalemated stale stale- mated on a tangle involving purchase purchase purchase pur pur- chase of a fire truck that developed developed developed devel devel- Wednesday when city officials officials officials learned the bid the company company com corn pany had previously submitted excluded e equipment qui p men t costing Mayor Ab Jenkins said he hadn't changed his position and still insisted that the contract was not binding I think it is foolish for the company to contest the contract and I will go out of my way to discourage any other parties parties parties par par- ties from dealing with the concern concern concern con con- cern the mayor stated Sees Contract Flaw City Attorney E. E Ray Christensen Christen- Christen sen in what he called a curbstone curbstone curbstone curb stone opinion held the contract was riot not binding because the bid accepted was really an alternate proposal not solicited by the city Mr Christensen also said the parties making the contract did not adhere to procedure as outlined outlined outlined out out- lined in city ordinances He pointed out every concern dealing with the city is on notice that bids are to go first to the city purchasing agent and then to the city auditor to determine if funds are available for purchase In this case Mr Christensen said dealings were conducted di directly directly directly di- di with the city commission and he believes this to be a flaw in the contract Firm to Offer Briefs Ned Warnock and Louis A. A Callister Callister Callister Cal- Cal lister attorneys representing the Seattle concern said they would submit briefs within the next few days citing authority that the contract contract contract con con- tract is valid and Mr Christensen said he would prepare a brief upholding the city's side of the controversy after the company's briefs are received Mr Warnock declared in his opinion the city commission can undertake any contract for the city and if the city insists on avoiding the deal the company will ask for part payment for work already done on the truck |