Port Authority
Bidding
More than a year ago a local surveying company asked the
director of the Clinton County Port Authority (The Port) why they had not had
an opportunity to bid on a small portion of the JUMP hangar project. Since then
this writer has attempted, in vain, to have the Clinton County Port Authority (The Port)
adopt an open bidding process for obtaining most goods and services. Citing the
opinion of legal counsel, the Port’s executive director maintains that Ohio law
exempts Ports from the process for most activities. To date the Port has not
opened any of the millions of dollars of purchases to bidding. The Port does
not even have a written policy regarding this best practices option.
From 11/15/12 News Journal report.
…… During public comment, local public affairs observer Paul
Hunter said he had looked into whether the Port Authority is bound to enter
contracts through the open-bidding process. His research shows that other port
authorities in the state of Ohio use bidding, he said. Attorney Aaron Berke of
the Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease law firm which represents the Clinton
County Port Authority, said when the funds being expended are not solely public
dollars, then the purchase is not subject to Ohio’s competitive bid rule……..
The same legal counsel agrees that the law does not prohibit
bidding. Common sense would dictate that spending decisions that are made by an
employee of a public entity, the executive director, be limited and made in the
sunshine. The appearance of a conflict of interest issue is bound to
arise when potential bidders are bypassed in the selection process.
Many Ohio Port Authorities have a process. Below are a few
examples of those.
JEFFERSON — The Ashtabula County Port Authority
on Friday voted to put the $3.1 million redevelopment project at Plant C out to
bid……..
Lucas County……… Supplier Recruitment
The Port Authority’s goal is to purchase the highest quality materials and services at the most competitive cost, delivered in a timely manner with a high level of customer service. We depend on a diverse group of suppliers to meet this goal.
The Port Authority’s goal is to purchase the highest quality materials and services at the most competitive cost, delivered in a timely manner with a high level of customer service. We depend on a diverse group of suppliers to meet this goal.
Bids will be received at the Port Authority’s
administrative offices at One Maritime Plaza, Toledo, OH 43604.
The Port Authority of Allen County shall receive and open sealed
bids for the lease of land for agricultural purposes on April 12, 2012 at 10:30
a.m. local time in the office of the Board of Allen County Commissioners, 301
N. Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45801.
Members of the Clinton County Port Authority Board include:
David Hockaday, Bill Marine. Brian Smith, Fred Ertel, Ed Kuen, Kathleen
Madison, Jim Reynolds and Ron Ruduck. The paid Executive Director is Kevin
Carver and Beth Huber is his assistant.
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