At The Glades County Commission Meeting

Better Roads Gets $2 Million In Paving Contracts

MOORE HAVEN, FL. -- At the Glades County Commission meeting Monday night the Board adopted an ordinance that would allow 5% preference given to local bidders at the discretion of the county manager for purchases under $50,000 and the Board would have authority to provide 3% preference for items over $50,000, and awarded two large street paving contracts to Better Roads of Highlands county. 
 
The new ordinance means that when invoked, this ordinance would allow a local bidder to be awarded the bid if the bid comes within 5% of the lowest bid when the purchase is under $50,000 or if within 3% of the lowest bid when the purchase is over $50,000.  The determination of when the preference will be used will be stated at the time bids are requested by the county.

The Board awarded a bid to Better Roads for $264,633 for paving and resurfacing projects throughout Glades County in 2010.  One other bid was received from Lynch Paving in the amount of $368,186.
 
The Board moved to award the resurfacing of Rainey Slough Road to Better Roads for $1,741,313.96.  Four other bids were received ranging from $1,819,489 to $2,029,488.  It was noted that awards for asphalt projects funded by FDOT must go to the lowest bidder.

The Board heard county attorney Pringle�s explanation of the class action lawsuit initiated by Monroe County which now includes approximately 59 Florida Counties as plaintiffs that alleges that Priceline.com, Travelweb, Travelocity, Site59, Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Trip Network d/b/a Cheaptickets.com and Orbitz have failed to pay the full amount of tourism development taxes due to Monroe County and other counties that have enacted Tourism Development Tax.

County attorney Pringle informed the Board that he had received notice that Glades County may be named a defendant in a class action lawsuit related to occupational licenses, also known as business tax receipts.  Mr. Pringle, as directed at the April 13 meeting, has prepared an ordinance for the Board to consider rescinding ordinance 72-1 which imposed the tax, and the ordinance will be advertised for adoption in May.
           
The assertion is that these internet based businesses charge customers a �tax recovery charge� based on the wholesale rate rather than the retail rate actually paid by their customers who utilize their services for reserving tourism accommodations.  No action was required to remain part of the lawsuit and no costs will be accrued by Glades County. 
 
It was discussed that if this litigation is successful, tax revenue collected and remitted to Glades County will be nearly nil.  The Board chose to remain as members of the plaintiff class.