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Show Blazer purchase OK'd by council By PAUL CHALLIS News Editor BOUNTIFUL The City Council has narrowly OK'd the purchase of a $20,000 vehicle for use by its power department, from a local Ford dealership. Clifford Michaelis, Bountiful Light and Power director, told the city council the low bid by Jerry Seiner Chevrolet didn't meet the specifications and urged the governing govern-ing body to award the Marion Willey Ford bid for the purchase. Willey's Ford Blazer was bid at $21,233 for a five-passenger vehicle. vehi-cle. The council voted 3-2, with Mayor Robert Linnell breaking a 2-2 tie. Councilmen Leslie Foy and Harold Shafter voted for the Willey Ford, and Councilwoman Barbara Holt and Councilman Robert Gramoll voted against it Gramoll said he was against awarding the bid for the Ford Blazer because it was $2,500 more than the low bid. "I just can't see the justification in ignoring the low bid," Gramoll said. Michaelis said the power board approved the proposal of the Ford because it had a small V-8 engine as required by the specifications and would save on gas mileage in the long run. "It also has an electronic transmission and is better on hills," he said. Another feature in the Ford and not in the other three bids included a rear-window defogger. "This vehicle will be taken, home at night by the staff, and the rear-window defogger is a nice option. It is also the vehicle on call, and the defogger would be a valuable feature during winter months." Gramoll said he wasn't impressed impress-ed by the evidence or presentation given by Michaelis and urged the low bid be considered. The council did take into consideration con-sideration the 5 percent preference clause allowing the city to select local businesses that don't submit the lowest bid. "This clause allows us to give breaks to local businesses and is used very often," Linnell said. Shafter made the motion to approve ap-prove the bid, and then it was seconded by Foy. Linnell had to break the tie, awarding the bid to Willey Ford. In other action, the council gave preliminary and final approval for classroom additions to Mueller Park Junior High School Seminary building as requested by the school. The council decided the 540 square foot addition was in compliance with the zoning and ordinance regulations. |