Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-01
ROAD CONTRACT
NOT AWARDED
TOLOW BIDDER
Rumored That Decision of
County Commissioners
May Be Tested.
HAYES DEFENDS ACTION

The apparent arbitrary action of two
members of the board Of county commits
sioners in awarding a contract for the
Improvement of the Goode road, leading
to the LAFAYETTE Motors Company plant,
on bid Of S117, ,614.50, which was $2,247.50
higher than the lowest, may involve the
county in law suit to determine If the
commissioners followed the law.
The lowest bid was made by J. Harvey
Snider for S115, 1867, and this bid was not
accepted as of .'the lowest responsible
bidder" as the statute states.
Announcement was made at the office
of the county commissioners that Com
missioners CarIin Shank and Joseph
Hayes voted to award the contract for
the paving of the Goode road to the
Timberlake Construction Company, the
next highest bidder.
President Lewis George stated he "re-
fused to vote" and claimed he favored the
lowest bidder.
The highest bidder was Caldwell &
son. with a $117, ,924 bid; next was the
Timberlake Construction Company, with
a bid of S117, ,614.5O; Beard & Frost was
third, with a bid of S116,44e, and the
lowest bid was for S115.Se7, by J. Harvey
snider.
STATUTE
LANGUAGE
The language of the statutes under
which the board Of county commissioners
are governed is as follows, under Section
.. page $50 of the 1919 acts:
con the day and at the time and place
named in the notices the board shall con-
vene in session and shall receive all
sealed proposals rendered and shall open
the game in presence Of the bidders and
let the contract for the opening, widen
ing, changing or construction Of such
road, or improvement TO the lowest re-
sponsible bidder therefor.
'The board Of commissioners shall have
the right to reject any and al bids II
any good cause exists. otherwise the
contract shall be awarded to the lowest
responsible bidder"
President George stated the contractor
occurring the contract by two votes OF
the commissioners said he would do
everything possible to begin construc-
ton this fall
It was pointed out by Mr.. George that
the state board of tax commissioners
have to approve of proposed bond
issue of S125,O0O and this Will not come
before the board until Sept 10.
Mr.. George said that the Timberlake
concern was from FOuntaintown.
The contract was awarded late yester-
day following a closed conference.
This action of two members of the
county commissioners viii cost the tax
payers S2.24750 more on the completed
Job than if the lowest bid was accepted.
MIGHT TRY
INJUNCTION.
It was current gossip around the court
house that injunction proceedings might
be filed to test the validity Of the major
ity vote of the board of commissioners
in awarding the contract TO the next
highest bidder.
County Commissioner Hayes, In ex-
planning his vote favoring the Timberlake
Construction Company, said:
Il usually favor the lowest bidder, but
in this case it is necessary to have
contractor who is able to begin work at
once.
There is no question as to the respon-
sibility of the lowest bidder. but Mr.. Sni-
der Is primarily a builder Of gravel roads
and stated here yesterday that he gen
orally constructed gravel roads.
THE road must be completed as soon
az possible and the Timberlake people.
have the equipment and the service to
begin work as soon as the bond issue
is made.
The Lafayette Motors Company Is
building a plant costing more than s4,-
10000 and plan to build 200 homes or
which a number are completed bnt can't
be occupied until the mudholes on the
road are filed up" said Mr.. Hayes