Contradicting a straw vote taken at the Henderson City Council work session on February 16, 2010, members voted to accept the bid offered by Waste Industries, Inc.
The motion was amended by its progenitor, member Lonnie Davis, to allow for “tweaks” to the contract.
City Attorney John Zollicoffer reminded the council that it can negotiate with the lowest bidder or accept the bid.
City Manager Ray Griffin suggested that the motion be amended to continue to work with the company to create a contract for council consideration, but members chose not to amend the motion to that extent.
Explaining his motion, Davis said that Waste Industries has been in Vance County for 40 years, and he said that he could not see another company doing [sanitation] for less.
Speaking in support of Davis’ motion, member Garry Daeke said that he was afraid that the motion to reject Waste Industries’ bid would open them up to be “undercut”.
Before the vote, Zollicoffer recommended to the council that if negotiations were to continue that it should not accept the bid.
His advice was not heeded.
In the roll call vote, members Sara Coffey, Mary Emma Evans, and Mike Inscoe provided the three dissenting votes. Because the vote did not involve an ordinance, no second vote is required.