City Council members agreed that Police Chief Ryan Walker can bid on installation of equipment in six new police cars purchased by the Police Department.
Appearing before the Council at its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 15, Walker asked to be allowed to bid on the work. He said he has volunteered to do the installation at no cost for many years.
The mayor, aldermen officials and municipal employees may conuct business with the city as authorized by A.C.A. Sec. 14-42-107 (b) under the following conditions:
A. The purchase is under $10,000 and comparable merchandise or equipment at comparable prices is not otherwise available; and
B. The cost of the service is under $10,000 and comparable service at comparable prices is not otherwise available. (Ord. No. 478, Sec. 1)
Pea Ridge Municipal Code, Chapter 3.08
"I've done it for free for 12 years," he said, explaining that he believes he could outfit about one car a week and still perform his required duties as police chief.
"When we talked about this on the bidding," Mayor Jackie Crabtree said, "we have a list of equipment that would go in at the same time. Other companies would submit bids to Sandy (Button, clerk) or I. It's just an idea. I didn't know what the council thought."
Walker said that he was trying to save the city time because no companies will schedule the cars until he has possession of them and then most said it would be a couple of weeks before they could get to them. "No business will guarantee a week. There was one business last year that took five weeks," Walker said. "From my experience, it averages 40 hours."
"I just simply ask that you look at it as any other business," Walker said. "I just happen to be the chief. I would still dedicate my minimum hours to the city and would be the same as if I do it for any other city. I just want a fair chance. It's already in the budget. It's all there."
"We did check on it, it is legal," Crabtree said. "It can be done with any city employee."
"I've already proved I can do it," Walker said, explaining that he plans to start a business and that he has checked with the state for an LLC license and a city business license. He said he is already on the agenda for the Planning Commission's September meeting for a home occupation permit. Walker told the council he could do the work in his garage at his home.
The city ordinance states that if the service is under $10,000, city employees can transact business with the city. City attorney Michael Bearden said, "$10,000 isn't the big thing.... It's if it's not otherwise available."
"It has to be under $10,000," Button said. "Can you consider each vehicle a separate purchase? If you bid each vehicle individually, then it would be under $10,000."
General News on 08/23/2017