Trenton Mayor Dr. Nick McHargue has issued a statement clarifying the city’s council purchase of a truck for the electric distribution department during Monday night’s meeting.
Dr. McHargue said that he didn’t examine the truck bids close enough prior to the meeting and that in later reviewing the bids, he found that a government discount was also included with the bid from Barnes-Baker of Trenton, which was not a part of the Monday night discussion. With the government discount, Dr. McHargue said the Barnes-Baker bid price, which was accepted by the council, was actually the same as the bid submitted by Pettijohn Motors, which was $24,004.
The council purchased the truck, a 2017 Ford, from Barnes-Baker at a cost that was listed on the bid sheet presented to the public as higher than the lowest bid submitted by Pettijohn Motors of Bethany. At the meeting, it was stated that even with the city council policy allowing for local purchases to be made if it falls within 5 percent of the low bid, the Barnes-Baker bid was still $325 more than the Pettijohn bid. The Barnes-Baker bid discussed at the meeting had been within 6 percent of the lowest lited bid.
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