Truck before council acts

The City Council is poised to OK a bid proposal for a new pickup truck for the city's code enforcement officer tonight. The only trouble is, there's already a new Chevy pickup parked at City Hall at the time of this writing (Monday afternoon), bearing a city license plate and loaded with articles pertinent to the code enforcement officer's job.

The truck to be purchased was to be a "mid-size, two-wheel drive, regular cab utility work truck." But the vehicle in the city's lot is a Chevrolet Colorado, a compact truck. The related bid is apparently the lowest bid received; but under the bid specs, such as they are, this wouldn't even meet the specifications.

The whole bidding process, as we see it, is a mechanism through which the council conducts its due diligence in overseeing the financial affairs of the city as well as a tool to ensure fair competition between parties when the city has a big purchase to make. How does accepting a bid for a totally different class of truck extend the hand of fairness to the competitors?

Here's the most obvious question: How'd they get the truck? Is it on loan pending the council's approval or disapproval? Has it already been purchased, with city staffers trying to cover their tracks on the assumption the council will rubber-stamp the purchase?

If it's already been purchased -- well, spending $12,000 of the city's money without council approval and asking for approval later would be a ridiculous abuse of the system. (We're sure it's a good price; but what's the value of the public trust?) According to the city code, city staffers don't have to have council approval to solicit bids, but spending more than $5,000 kicks in a requirement for council approval, except in emergency situations. This is hardly an emergency, and we believe any reasonable person would assume that council approval is required BEFORE making the purchase.

If no purchase has actually been executed, would the city's license be on it? In any case, it's still something that gives an appearance of wrong-doing, and no city can afford to put the public trust at risk. For example, using the truck while the council considers the purchase may not be illegal, but it's certainly something that makes the city appear to be operating outside appropriate boundaries. It may not actually be a violation of the public trust, but it certainly looks like one.

We want the city to be seen by outsiders as one that's honest and plays by the rules, not one that tries to bend the rules when it suits them.

City offices were closed on Monday due to the holiday, so staffers couldn't be interviewed. Mayor Mike Hutchens, contacted Monday evening, didn't elaborate when told we were confused by the appearance of the truck prior to council approval of its purchase. He says it'll all be explained at tonight's council meeting. We'll be listening.

-- Nevada Daily Mail