Fairgrounds project giving commissioners 'heartburn'
An upgrade to the sewer and bleachers at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds was put on hold Wednesday by the county commissioners due to questions about a lack of following proper procedure.
Dallas Wamsley, the county’s human resources and payroll coordinator, said procurement rules weren’t followed, and Commissioner Mark Peck said the open meeting process wasn’t followed in obtaining two bids for “pre-cast” services for concrete bleachers.
Tracy McIntyre, a Eureka-based consultant, and Commissioner Mike Cole were involved in the process in which two bids were received and another two businesses were contacted.
Cole apologized for his role in the mix-up and said the situation had given the commissioners some heartburn.
“I’m troubled that something that significant went out to bid before we even discussed it,” Peck said.
It was also noted that an advertisement was placed in the Tobacco Valley News instead of the Kootenai Valley Record, which had won the contract for county advertisements.
On Aug. 17, the county commissioners voted 2-1 with Greg Larson in opposition to move forward with a $411,000 Montana InterCap loan application pending approval of Kalispell-based engineering consultant Mike Fraser and a commitment letter of $150,000 from the Eureka Rodeo Association. The loan would be for 15 years at an adjustable rate set by the InterCap Loan Fund every February. The county would make loan payments from its annual Payment in Lieu of Taxes funds that it receives from the federal government.
Commissioners Cole and Peck signed Resolution No. 975 to that effect on Aug. 24, which called for an upgrade to the hillside bleachers at the fairgrounds and placement of the town of Eureka’s wastewater lines at the site.
On Wednesday, County Clerk Robin Benson suggested that the commissioners remove the bleachers out of the project, and Wendy Drake, the county’s accounting deputy, suggested that the rodeo association could pay for the bleachers.
After the meeting, Drake said the county had not yet received a letter from the rodeo association regarding its contribution. County Planner Lisa Oedewaldt said that, as of Oct. 12, the county hadn’t received approval from Fraser. Fraser could not be reached for comment.
As a result of the mixup, Larson said he wanted the commissioners to “take our time and do it proper.” The commissioners decided to postpone the issue until 9 a.m. at their Nov. 9 meeting in Libby.