FW: Citizens "Taint" the Bidding Process

Please let your feelings be known about our local government doing things behind our back......

Citizens for Oconee's Future, Inc.
P.O. Box 1301
Watkinsville, GA 30677

Following is a message from Lee Becker, Friends of Barber Creek with information about the secret bidding process being used by the county to contract for the Rocky Branch sewage treatment plant. Please remember this is the plant that will result in treated sewer water being dumped into Barber Creek which flows through several Oconee subdivisions. This project was advertised for bids once before but no contract was let as a result. Go to Lee's blog for the background on this project.
Charles Baugh


Subject: Citizens "Taint" the Bidding Process

Dear Friends:
Oconee County officials, in an effort to keep citizens from "tainting" the review process, have decided to keep secret the second round of bids for the $8-10 million upgrade of the Rocky Branch sewage plant as well as the review process by which those bids will be evaluated.

County officials threw out the first bids after an analysis of them by citizens showed that the County was recommending that the low bidder be passed over, that the successful bidder had actually written up the plant's specifications, and that a less sophisticated technology not covered by the Request for Proposals was being promoted.
For the second round, according to County Administrative Officer Alan Theriault, the County has decided that "The mere fact that a member of the general public is in anyway involved may taint and compromise the entire process."

As a consequence, according to Theriault, "The proposals will be available to the public at such time as the final award of the contract is made or the project is terminated or abandoned." The public also will not be informed about the timing or location of a scheduled meeting for evaluation of the submitted bids.
For more information on the restrictions placed on access to the bidding process, go to www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com.
If you think the Oconee County officials will make a better decision on the Rocky Branch upgrade if citizens are kept in the dark out of fear they will "taint" the process, write Chairman Melvin Davis and the four members of the Board of Commissioners and congratulate them on a job well done.

If you think Oconee County officials will make a better decision on the Rocky Branch upgrade if they involve the people who going to pay the $8-10 million bill as well as deal with the plant's output, write and say that.

Here are the email addresses of the members of the Board of Commissioners:
Melvin Davis, (Chairman), mdavis@oconee.ga.us
Margaret Hale, margarethale@oconee.ga.us and marghale@aol.com
Chuck Horton, chorton@oconee.ga.us
Jim Luke, jluke@oconee.ga.us
Don Norris, dnorris@oconee.ga.us.
You also can call them 706 769-5120.
Lee

Lee Becker

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jeff Dantzler's arrests may be the best thing that ever happened to him

THis has next to nothing to do with Oconee County with the possible exception of the location of his former office, but a former colleague of mine on the radio got popped today for four counts. Any one who has listened to 960 the Ref AM sports talk radio or heard the UGA Lady Dawgs or men's baseball team has surely heard the encyclopedic knowledge of one Jeff Dantzler. Jeff and I are pretty much diametrically opposed poltically, but today he was arrested on four counts including DUI. I hope he gets the help he needs following his incarceration. I work for a lawyer who could help him out if he does not having someone already representing him. This man is a great broadcaster and I hope this arrest serves as a wake-up call for him and his rock and roll lifestyle. I live a far from perfect life myself but long ago and far away I learned how and when not to drink. Now we will be without he dulcet tones on Lady Bulldog broadcasts as well as on Georgia baseball games and also on the after...
Read more

A deep wound waiting to be healed - restoring order and dignity in the city cemetery

Image
The Watkinsville City Cemetery is an oasis amidst the houses on the east side of the municipality, near the neighborhood once called Sidney. There is a large section of the cemetery that remains a mystery, but perhaps we can work together to dignify the eternal resting spot somewhat better than the current neglected and forgotten (not to mention unmarked) graves of 70 people, more than likely of African-American descent. They deserve to be honored as well. An effort has been undertaken to repair the graves with fill dirt to stop the continued erosion amongst the graves. The most recent grave and bench belong to Larry Sheats,  and as any one who played basketball at Herman C. Michael Park or knew him otherwise  can attest, he was among the best people this county has ever seen. Larry was always ready to help. Now it is our turn to help. Do it for someone you knew there, maybe the Hardens, or the Downs, or any number of other people, but allow me to reminisce about how L...
Read more

I strongly disagree with the impending demolishing of the iconic Watkinsville Water Tower

Image
I know the Watkinsville Water Tower near where the "Big Spring" of what was one called Big Springs, Georgia serves no functional purpose anymore. I know it is a hazard. I know it is rusty and old and past its usefulness for the most part. I see a purpose beyond the aesthetic and instead as a possible financial benefit.  I know there is a way to keep it and make money for our municipality. I wonder who is doing the seemingly shoddy job of removing it (or at least preparing to raze it) and who stands to make money off that?  The dismantling of the Watkinsville Water Tower has already caused one gas leak and I can only imagine what problems await the demolition of the dinosaur.  If it is only because a group of kids have been crawling up it, then build a fence around it. I would think the City of Watkinsville would benefit and making monthly lease fees if they would instead do what about 90% of these abandoned water towers do and that is become a cellular telephone tow...
Read more