Lilburn Rejects Bids for Wrecker Services

Lilburn officials have voted to reject all bid pertaining to a recent invitation for wrecker services within the city limits. Instead, officials want to execute new contracts based on fixed rates.

Three council members voted for this, and one -- Thomas Wight -- abstained, during the Jan. 14 council meeting.

During the work session, council members and staff debated how the final contracts should be awarded, and what the concerns were in the bids for the original request for proposal.

Three companies -- Statewide Wrecker Services, S &W Services of Atlanta and Diversity Towing -- submitted bids. Two bids were invalid, incomplete, or otherwise questionable. The one completed bid came with a higher price tag.

"The way I looked at it: How is that fair to award that to that particular vendor, and it would cost our citizens and visitors more money than it should?" said City Manager Bill Johnsa in a telephone call Tuesday. "We have to look at what's in the best interest of the city."

The staff recommended that the city set the rates for the wrecker services, and then select at most two companies to provide those services. The chosen company or companies would have to adhere to requirements in the original request for proposal. Once awarded, each company would work every other month.

Council member suggestions for awarding the final contracts included: another bid process, splitting contracts between the lowest previous bidders, splitting contracts between all interested parties and giving right of first refusal to the previous bidder with the complete application.

"We're just moving forward to try and get the best deal for the city that we can," City Attorney Richard Carothers said to council members during work session, "but also to allow more than one person, more than one entity, to participate in it."

For the past 15 years, the city of Lilburn has used Statewide Wrecker Services without a formal contract or a competitive bid process. And, according to the city attorney, the city doesn't have to issue a request for proposal.

According to Wight, the city considered using another service besides Statewide Wrecker Services, "and that's what got them all upset, was the fact that we changed apparently with no notice or he felt like insufficient notice."

Now, Statewide Wrecker Services is in direct competition with several other companies for the city's business.

Ultimately, council members seemed to agree that those businesses with locations in Lilburn be awarded the new contracts, provided all outlined conditions be met. Of the three previous bidders, Statewide Wrecker Services and S &W Services of Atlanta have sites in Lilburn.

"Had the vendor, or the contractor, that had a complete bid had also the lowest prices, this wouldn't have been an issue," Johnsa said Tuesday. "It would have been awarded, but that was not the case, and it's complicated the matter."

Although city officials said they are trying to be fair, there may be potential for a lawsuit regarding it. At least one affected party brought attorneys and a court reporter to the work session.

No matter what happened in the past or what anyone's grievances are, Johnsa is clear on this: That the city needs a contract with any company that is providing a city service. 

"That's what we're working toward," he said.