Last night’s Woodstock City Council Agenda carried an item involving an expected approval to purchase a $27,000 Chevrolet truck from Gary Lang, a McHenry dealership. When I spotted that item on the Agenda, I knew it was a meeting not to miss.
Because I believe strongly that major purchases should be made from hometown businesses, I went to the Council meeting, hoping to be able to address the Council. The purchase was part of the Consent Agenda, which the Council approves in one sweeping vote. Council members can “pull” an item for discussion, and the public is given an opportunity to request that an item be pulled for discussion. If the public does so, then a Council member must agree and make the formal request.
At the appropriate time I requested that the item be pulled, and Councilwoman Julie Dillon supported my request.
I addressed the City Council about the importance of making such a vehicle purchase at a Woodstock dealership, if at all possible. If the local dealership could not obtain a vehicle to the specifications needed or if the price were far out of line, then the local dealership would lose out. But, if the bid were close, the local dealership ought to get the nod.
City Attorney Rich Flood explained the State law. The lowest responsible bidder gets the business. Home-rule cities can opt for a difference process, allowing a reasonable purchase that is not the lowest bid.
I don’t have any connection to Reichert Chevrolet but, as a former Chamber of Commerce executive of an 1,100-member chamber outside of Illinois, I felt strongly that Reichert should have been awarded the purchase. Reichert is a long-time Woodstock business, and its sales generate thousands of dollars of sales tax revenue every year for the City of Woodstock. Also, it is convenient for any warranty work or repairs. Its Woodstock location removes the expense of lengthy travel time for one or more City employees to take a new vehicle to McHenry for service.
The City of Woodstock has mechanics who can perform most maintenance to vehicles, and the City buys vehicles with common parts, when possible, reducing large inventory requirements. Of course, with a dealership at the edge of town and several auto parts stores, no significant parts inventory should be necessary.
Was the Chamber of Commerce executive director there last night to voice support of a local purchase? No! Should he have been there? Yes!
The City of Woodstock should figure out a way to keep a $27,778 Chevrolet purchase at home. If Reichert moved to Hebron or Harvard or into the County, Woodstock would have another commercial property vacant and would lose considerable yearly sales tax revenues. Gary Lang would expect to get business from the City of McHenry. Reichert should get Woodstock’s business.
I appreciated the Council’s attention last night, and I urge the public to read the Agenda for the Woodstock City Council meetings online at www.woodstockil.gov Show up and hear what is happening. If you want to know what the Council is doing, speak up at the meetings and ask questions. It’s not enough to just watch them vote or read about it in the next day’s paper. Know on what they are voting, before they vote on it.
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18 comments:
Were you not listening you fool. State law says it goes to the lowest bidder. Now you are complaining about the city saving tax money buy going with the lowest price. You just like to complain about everything. you are a jerk.
I agree totally with the above comment. (except for the name calling) I'm glad they went with a cheaper bid. They saved the City money and they were following the law. When Woodstock goes home rule I would expect the City to be more likely to buy from local dealers. You can't just read the agenda, Gus. You have to go the library or City Hall and read the whole council packet. You are basing your opinion off an outline of the Council meeting. The packet will describe (I think) who the bidders were and what price each business bid. You need to stop shooting from the hip, and start doing some real research. Your articles are becoming more and more non-credible. You can do better, Gus. I'm sure you looked dumb at the council meeting speaking about something you didn't know the facts on. Way to go.
Reicherts of Woodstock did not bid on this truck. Reicherts of Crystal Lake did, if Council had chosen Reicherts not only would more money have been spent but the sales tax dollars would go to Crystal Lake not Woodstock. What benefit would there be Gus from choosing Reichert of Crystal Lake?
Where did Gus get Reichert from?
Do you suppose the purchase of a truck by the City of Woodstock is exempt from sales tax? When I know the amounts of the three bids that were considered (two bids were not considered, because they did not meet the specifications), I'll post them here. I asked that information last night, but it was not provided.
Getting "Reichert" was really difficult. Had to find my Sherlock Holmes hat and dust it off.
Low bidder was Gary Lang.
Gary Lang sells Chevie trucks.
Chevy trucks are sold by Chevy dealers.
Reichert is a Chevy dealer in Woodstock.
Ta-dah!
OK, Watson?
Ta-dah. Warranty work can be done by any dealer of the brand. The vehicle does not have to go back to the original seller.
The difference between Reichert's bid and Gary Lang's bid was $76.00. That's 00.2736%, or one-quarter of 1%.
While there is a State law requiring Woodstock to buy from the lowest "responsible" bidder, should such a law exist without an exemption to allow a community to buy from a hometown business that is within, say, 1-2% of the lowest bid?
Is it 1% or 2%? Until then you're wrong. Which is okay. Just admit it. Lowest bidder means lowest bidder. $1 or $76. Thanks for finally looking at the council packet.
And he is still missing the point that it was not bid by the Woodstock Store. it was Reichert's in Crystal Lake. please shut up Frank. You make it hard to get work done.
I don't get it. Ihave a junker Chevy L Camino (1977) in my back yard that the Code Enforcement dude has been on my back about trying to get rid of. All it needs is a new carberader and it'll run like a horse. I'd give it to the City for $100 and save the taxpayers a tun of money - but did the Code dude call me? NO. He couldof done us all a favor and had a new truck in the bargain. He's too busy swigging coffee with the Starbucks crowd and blocking traffic on the Squrae. If nay one wants my l CaMino, let meno.
Do you think that Reichert's in Woodstock and Reichert's in Crystal Lake might be owned by the same people? So, if they choose to bid from the main office and that happens to be in Crystal Lake, so what?
Why the Chamber of Commerce isn't all over the City to get its attorney to figure out how to let a City buy from a business in its own town, I don't know.
I suspect that Reichert's (or Gary Lang) would not make much on a sale to a municipality but, in my book, it's really stupid not to buy from your hometown car dealership for $76.00 on a $27,778 purchase!
The attorney would cost a lot of money to "look into" this non issue. Your really not making sense Gus. Why do you want the residents to pay for the attorney to "look into" this non issue?
Hey! Why not buy out of town? When the city is done with the car or trucks, they ship the out of the country. They give cars to mexico, part of the brother city program or something.
Gus, why don't you mention that?
Are you saying that the City of Woodstock disposes of vehicles by giving them to its sister city in Mexico? Or are you referring to the fire truck donated by the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, which is not part of the City of Woodstock?
anon is right; i heard city gave a couple of cars away too.
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