Playing in the playground???

I just finished skimming tonight’s council workbook, and made it nearly to the end with no major malfunctions, until I was almost through Legislative Item 11, when I saw something that made me go “Hmm…”

I got to a letter from Walnut Grove Playgrounds to Betsy Parr (!) and after I reread it, and all of the other info, I said to myself, self:

• Why is our very busy, highly paid Community Redevelopment Director handling the purchasing of $60K worth of playground equipment personally???
• Why did the instructions to bidders seem to change after the pre-bid meeting???
• Why were the other two, or at least the second lowest, bidder NOT called back in to re-quote???
• Why, in his Staff Report, does Mr. Adkins state that “Service Supply has installed most of our playground equipment in recent years.” while Walnut Grove, in their letter to Ms. Parr states that “Service Supply has provided equipment, but Walnut Grove Playgrounds installed it.” Certainly Walnut Grove would realize how easily this could be checked.
• Walnut Grove also states that “it was my understanding that the city would buy the equipment directly from Service Supply without going through a bidding process…”!!! How could they possibly reach this “understanding“???
• Aren’t all City purchases in excess of a certain dollar amount required to be competitively bid???
• Doesn’t this purchase fall under the bailiwick of the extremely competent and always prepared Ms. Cindy Strayer???
• Why would Walnut Grove think that their letter of protest should be sent to Ms. Parr???

As a side note, Walnut Grove comments that “the playground at Old South Park shows little or no use”!!! If this is true, why are we adding additional similar equipment??? Is this a case of “we have to spend this money or we will lose it”???

§ 209.06 AUTHORITY OF THE CITY MANAGER; PURCHASES.

(c) Southwest Ohio Purchasers for Government Association.

(3) The City Manager, through the City Purchasing Agent, is hereby authorized to make purchases, for the City, of commodities or items costing twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) or more, through such Association, provided that:

A. The competitive bidding procedures of the Association have been used in such purchases;