Rhoades questions Solid Waste District bid requests
By Bob Robinson

GREENVILLE – At the regular Commissioners meeting Sept. 9 Darke County Commissioner Mike Rhoades objected to methodology regarding bids taken by Darke County Solid Waste Director Krista Fourman.

Fourman requested bids on two computers from Doss Business Systems and GPS Computer. They were needed to replace outdated computers; one each at Solid Waste and Darke County Ditch Maintenance. Doss and GPS both provided quotes on business-ready computers with Microsoft Home & Business licenses. This was more than Fourman needed.

She told the commissioners she only needed standard Notebooks with licenses. This removed Doss from the bidding as they only dealt in business equipment; however GPS revised its bid.

Krista said she didn’t really know what she was looking for and wanted to compare “apples to apples” so Jeff Surber at GPS pulled some links of computers at Staples comparable to what he was offering and sent them to her. The Staples bid was higher than the GPS bid.

Rhoades objected.

“This is unethical,” he said. “Why is Jeff getting quotes for you from a competitor?”

Commissioner Mike Stegall didn’t see a problem. Commissioner Diane Delaplane said she agreed with Rhoades but will approve the bid.

“It isn’t appropriate,” she said, “but with the (Fourman’s) explanation and enough varied information here I believe I can approve it.”

The bid for two Acer Aspire LED Notebooks with Licenses by GPS Computer, Greenville, for $1,222 was approved two to one. Rhoades made the dissenting vote.

At the Sept. 18 meeting, Administrative Clerk/Secretary Robin Blinn noted commissioners met with Fourman following the Sept. 9 meeting and confirmed with her the process to be used in getting bids for her department.

Commissioners approved the terms and conditions regarding the Airport Improvement Program Grant at Darke County Airport, Versailles. Following approval of the terms and conditions they accepted the $85,890 grant to be used for the development of approximately 50 acres.

They gave Marshall authority to accept the FY2013 FAA Grant on Sept. 11.

On Sept. 11 commissioners approved Community Development/Grants Coordinator Jeff Marshall’s recommendation to put more than $76,600 in delinquent and “uncollectable” sewer district fees on the tax assessments of the individual parties.

The districts involved are: North Star, $2,075.31; Osgood, $3,145.51; Pitsburg, $51,660; Rolin Acres, $1,307; Rossburg, $15,878.97; and Yorkshire, $2,548.17.

Marshall said this wasn’t unusual, adding “the rule of thumb (for sewer district payments) is about 10 to 15 percent delinquency.”

Following reading of the minutes for Sept. 9 Ryan Carpe asked what was noted as “clearing the air” in a meeting of department heads. Stegall explained the commissioners had asked all departments to “flat line” their budgets for 2014, but the sheriff didn’t and the others wanted to know why.

Discussion ensued about the increased sheriff activity with the department coming up short each year. The activity was mostly due to the drug problem in the county.

“Toby (Sheriff Spencer) said almost every problem – 90 percent – relates back to drugs,” Stegall said. Stegall also noted the “trickle-down” effect and how increased sheriff activity results in increased prosecution, court and probation activity.

“It’s complicated,” he said. He added that it was a productive meeting with one or two ideas coming out of it.

Published courtesy of The Early Bird