It’s really impossible to understand what happened tonight when top ranked Arcadis (WPB) was bypassed for Mock Roos (WPB). If you recall, Arcadis was chosen as the city's top choice to be the engineer for design, permitting and bidding assistance to install a concentrate disposal injection well system (deep well).
Four companies made presentations over several hours back on August 25. We all sat there and listened intently—went through the process. Prior to their presentations that night, the City had a Review Committee and picked the top four firms. Arcadis ranked number one. Each company had 15 minutes to present. After the presentations and much discussion, the Commission chose Arcadis. This was significant because it was the first time that Mock Roos, a company with a total monopoly on city engineering business, got knocked out of the running and another firm was chosen for engineering design.
Arcadis is an international engineering and consulting company. In January this year it was awarded an $8.8 million work order from South Florida Management District. It is a company that is recognized globally in water management issues and has ongoing projects in the
David Smith the Principal Hydrogeologist was in the Chamber and had a chance to speak. In a very diplomatic way, he implied that communication was non-existent with the City. He never had return calls, never had return e-mails, never even got a letter from the City of
Our Utility Director said that she didn’t have a chance to review his proposal, that e-mails, etc. were handled by the Purchasing Manager and that she was uneasy with Arcadis because of a few "ripples." Therefore, she decided to bypass Arcadis and go with Mock Roos, whose proposal she apparently had time to review. Who asked Mock Roos to submit a proposal? When were they asked to submit one? Why didn’t Mattey call Arcadis? The Commission went along with this with only Mayor Jeff Clemens dissenting.
An e-mail I received--
ReplyDeleteLast night Mock Roos was given the pen back to write checks in our Citizen's taxpayer's checkbook for $25,000.000 without verification what the true cost is on the open market, as in the past 50 years. When they need, they just write; no one verifies, and they know it, so why not? Human nature without proper principles at work..They have an enormous overhead so we must pay for it thanks to our non-Florida licensed Utility Director. It makes her look powerful.
At 723 N.federal Highway lives a young divorced mother with 3 children, 6, 9 and 11 years old. Suzanne knows why,in spite of 3 children.
She holds 3 part time jobs and must feed her children starch in the morning, noon and at night, while Mock Roos gets $25,000.000 with open change orders to $50,000.000?
Lisa, who works part time at Loraine Bowes, can't get assistance because she is an American. American taxpayers' money is not available to her little struggling family.
Bravo City Administration. I hope you all eat well and healthy foods!!