Contract to service the city's backup generators raises questions about compliance with state bid rules
The Kenner City Council on Thursday rescinded its approval of a contract to service the city's backup generators, after civic activists raised questions as to whether the selected contractor complied with state bid rules. The council unanimously withdrew its approval of a $49,900-a-year bid from Mississippi firm Taylor Power Systems and gave the administration of Mayor Mike Yenni two weeks to show the firm satisfied all state requirements.
The deferral came at the request of Councilman Kent Denapolis, who said he needed more time to get answers on the matter. But most council members indicated they felt the delay was not needed yet were voting for a deferral out of deference to Denapolis. Administration officials reiterated they felt the city's bid was proper and that the contractor complied with the rules.
"We're wasting city resources rehashing and rehashing and rehashing issues that have been addressed," Councilwoman Maria DeFrancesch said, adding that she had spoken to city officials to get the answers she needed.
Denapolis, however, said he had additional concerns about the contract, especially whether the two-year deal could exceed $50,000 annually and whether the electrical portion of the contract could reach $10,000, which Denapolis said would put the city in violation of bid rules.
City officials said the annual value of the contract has not reached $40,000 in the past two years. They did not have figures immediately available as to the expenses on electrical work.
Taylor Power Systems submitted the lowest offer for the job, which the council accepted last month. But Kenner resident Jack Zewe raised questions about the contract in recent weeks, saying the company didn't have the electric license required by the state in order to bid for the work. Frequent administration critic Walt Bennetti echoed that criticism earlier this week.
Mike Quigley, the city's chief administrative officer, said officials talked Thursday with a local agent of the State Licensing Board, who examined the city's bid specifications and indicated the city had complied with the law. Quigley said the board's local agent indicated he city "could expect a follow up letter" confirming it had followed the rules.
Yenni said the contract, to maintain generators that provide emergency power to City Hall, the police department, fire stations and other city facilities, is a service job that his administration opted to put out for bid.
"We're doing this in an effort to save the city money. I could do it like Aaron Broussard and say it's a professional service contract, give it to my friend. But I don't do that," Yenni said. Broussard, a former Jefferson Parish President, is heading to federal prison on public corruption charges that included taking bribes from a contractor to steer work to his company.
In other business Thursday, the Kenner City Council:
- Postponed a vote on new rules for taxicabs until at least next month, so the administration can complete its proposed changes to a 1971 ordinance that governs cab licenses. The city is considering stricter requirements for its roughly 300 licensed taxicabs similar to changes made by the city of New Orleans last year that required newer vehicles with working air conditioning, credit card machines and better signage. Kenner cab drivers that serve Louis Armstrong International Airport are required to comply with New Orleans' rules.
- Accepted a $354,017 bid from Sport Court of Arkansas to replace vinyl tile flooring at various recreation department sites with wooden gym flooring. Officials said the new flooring is better and will require less maintenance. FEMA financed the work.
- Authorized the administration to sign a new lease agreement with the state to return to the state a section of the Lake Pontchartrain shore and bottom in the so-called Laketown area, near the Treasure Chest Casino, so the state can develop it for commercial use. The lease restricts city use only to recreational purposes. The new lease would also seek to rent a new area of lake bottom adjacent to the casino, which the city hopes to use for recreational use in the future.
- Added $72,282 in state funds to the city's capital budget, to pay for safety marking improvements at 13 railroad crossings in Rivertown and other parts of south Kenner. "This will be very beneficial for those areas and all of us," said Councilman Gregory Carroll, who represents the area.
- Accepted a $24,175 bid from Dyna Play LLC to replace old and damaged tot lot equipment at Laketown.
- Recognized the Kenner Police Department for winning a statewide award that named it the local police agency that removed the most DWI suspects from roadways in 2012. Officials said it's the third year in a row that the city police receives that award.