County Government no longer has to advertise bids under $25,000

A resolution came before the County Commission which read, “Whereas, State of Tennessee Public Chapter No. 1016 (Senate Bill 2489), authorizes the County Commission, by resolution, to increase the threshold over which public advertisement and sealed competitive bids or proposals are required to an amount not to exceed $25,000, but greater than $10,000, for non-emergency, nonproprietary purchases;

“Whereas, the county legislative body of Lewis County has determined that the cost and time savings associated with such an increase of the bidding threshold is in the best interest of the county.”

Attached to the resolution in the Commissioners’ packet was a copy of the senate/state law which also stated that at least three written quotations are required when possible for purchases costing less than the bid threshold and “purchases of like items must be aggregated for purposes of the bid threshold.” It would also allow a county, municipality, utility district or other local governmental entity to raise that to $50,000.

The law states that this can only be set in place if the governing body has a “centralized purchasing authority with a full-time purchasing agent.”

Commissioners Aren Ragsdale and Ronnie Brewer motioned to accept the resolution. The resolution passed in a 17 to one vote. Commissioner Patrick Halfacre voted against the resolution with Commissioners Ragsdale, Brewer, Timmie Hinson, T.J. Hinson, Jim Grinder, Wendell Kelley, Kyle Bobo, Bill Dyer, Larry Hensley, Caleb Feichtinger, Allison Tanner, Doug Jobbitt, Jerry Ashmore, Brian Peery, Austin Carroll, Robert Brewer, and Larry Pigg voting yes.

Amending Purchasing Policies and Procedures

A resolution came before the Commission seeking to increase the minimum amount required to obtain a purchase order from the purchasing department from $500 to $1,000 which would be effective starting July 1, 2022.

This policy had previously been amended in 2019 where the minimum amount required was raised from $250 to $500.

Commissioners Halfacre and Ronnie Brewer sponsored the resolution, and the resolution passed in a unanimous vote.

Authorizing the purchase of two trucks for the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department

A resolution came before the Commission seeking the approval of the purchase of two new Chevy Silverado 4WD trucks for the Sheriff’s Department using remaining funds from the American Rescue Plan Act grant.

The two trucks would be purchased from Wilson County Motors for approximately $29,912.70 each, as well as the upfitting at approximately $10,000 each, for an estimated total of $79,800.

Captain Todd Laster was present for the meeting and informed the Commission that their call rate was up by 63 percent, and they were in need of the two trucks as some of their current vehicles had well over 100,000 miles.

Commissioners Robert Brewer and Ragsdale motioned to adopt the resolution, and the resolution was put to a roll call vote where it passed 14 to 4. Voting against the resolution were T.J. Hinson, Timmie Hinson, Kelley and Bobo. The Commissioners in favor of the resolution were Ragsdale, Ronnie Brewer, Robert Brewer, Tanner, Jobbitt, Grinder, Hensley, Dyer, Halfacre, Ashmore, Carroll, Peery, Feichtinger, and Pigg.

Correction for the Lewis County Jr. Pro Football

During last Monday’s meeting, a Commissioner stated that he believed the Junior Pro Football league had started playing on the Lewis County Middle School’s field. After talking with members from Jr. Pro, they have not started playing at the Middle School field as of yet, but it is in discussion. The league is currently playing at Memorial Park.

This meeting will be continued next week

At last week’s meeting, the Commission had planned to recess and continue the meeting on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 6:00 in the evening. This would be after print, and the items discussed will be in next week’s issue.