T See a Need' for Suncoast Parkway Extension Local Bid Preference
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
50¢ Friday/ Saturday Jan. 10-11, 2020 www.perrynewspapers.com Shoaf ‘doesn’t see a need’ for Suncoast Parkway extension The proposed Suncoast However, Taylor Rotary Club this week, Parkway extension, which County’s newest Shoaf provided a preview will likely pass through representative in the of the 2020 legislative Taylor County if it is legislature, Rep. Jason session that begins next constructed, was approved Shoaf, made it clear this week, but many of the last year as one of the week he is not in favor of questions posed by those in Florida Legislature’s main the proposal. attendance were about the priorities. Speaking at the Perry Suncoast Parkway and its possible impact on Taylor County. “I’ve come into office Shoaf reveals his immediately looking into that issue, because it has the potential to negatively legislative focus or positively impact our district more than anything On the eve of his first session in the Florida else in the short-term,” Legislature, State Rep. Jason Shoaf this week Shoaf said. “I met with provided the Perry Rotary Club with an overview farmers. I met with business of the bills he will be spearheading, including those owners. I’ve really gotten a targeting healthcare, vocational education and lot of feedback. I can tell economic development. you that I haven’t been able Shoaf won a special election last year after the 2019 to see much positive with session was completed, so this is his first time at the that road at this point.” state capitol representing District 7, which includes “We’ve got [U.S.] 19 that Taylor County. is four lanes, that has served “I was never in politics in any shape or form,” its purpose for a long time, and I don’t believe that it’s Rep. Jason Shoaf (center) was the special guest at Tuesday’s Perry ➟ Please see page 3 Rotary Club meeting. He is shown with Rotary President Mark Viola (left) ➟ Please see page 3 and Rotarian Cline Moore (right). Local bid preference debated The Taylor County up price per gallon” on Perry-based Ware Oil (.055 School Board is one step delivering ultra low sulfur per gallon) would reportedly closer to adopting a policy diesel fuel. amount to between $500 that would give local Invitations were sent and $1,100 over the course companies a preference to nine firms, and the five of a year, according to when bidding on providing Local Bid responding all agreed to Superintendent of Schools goods or services for the transport diesel from a Dr. Danny Glover, Jr. local school district. terminal in Bainbridge, Ga. According to the school At their Dec. 10 meeting, Preference? to a 10,000-gallon fuel tank finance department, the school board members at the bus garage in Perry. district paid $165,029 to voted 5-0 in favor of re- The bid specifications Petroleum Traders last advertising a proposed called for approximately fiscal year for diesel. So far local bid preference policy 80,000 to 115,000 gallons this fiscal year, the district for another public hearing request in response to contract to provide diesel the school board approve of fuel annually. has paid out $51,989 under after making minor changes complaints from local for local school buses. a bid from Indiana-based The difference between the contract. to the wording. fuel supplier Ware Oil & At a July 23, 2019 Petroleum Traders Corp, the Indiana-based In July, when several The proposed policy Supply after an out-of-town meeting, a local bid who submitted the lowest Petroleum Traders mark ➟ Please see page 2 was drafted at the board’s company narrowly won a committee recommended bid providing “a firm mark- up (.0487 per gallon) and Dunnell: Minorities, females deserve advantage In addition to a “local bid contracts to provide goods that would give minority- participation, however with suffer disadvantages. The The board agreed to preference” policy currently and services to the school owned and female-owned these changes we are giving language in here now just include the following under consideration by system. businesses an advantage. advantages to the local recognizes what the state is wording promoting the Taylor County School During discussion on “When we first looked community, which I have already doing -- stating that “diversity” in purchasing District, School Board a proposed “local bid at making changes to this no problems with because they have the opportunity to in its revised policy: “The Member Deidra Dunnell preference” policy at the policy, I expressed concerns I want to keep business go in and bid on a contract,” School Board is committed is advocating that minority school board’s Dec. 10 with our minority and local and support small Dunnell said, referring to to doing business with and female-owned meeting (see related story), women vendors,” Dunnell business.” wording included in the contractors, vendors, businesses also receive an Dunnell sought support said. “With this policy “However, women policy at her request during ➟ Please see page 2 advantage when bidding on for including language we never excluded local and minorities tend to a previous meeting. Local boy invited to meet Luke Combs Four months after a six- reached Combs himself, spider though!” second video of Taylor who reposted it on his Combs’ posts on Twitter County youngster Cole various social media and Instagram were each Ellison singing Luke accounts, commenting seen millions of times, Combs’ hit song “Beer not only on the toddler’s drawing notice and Never Broke My Heart” singing ability, but also the comments from numerous went viral online, the three- toy spider on the floor next country stars, including Old year-old and his parents to him. Dominion, Thomas Rhett met Combs in person and “Sing it buddy,” Combs ➟ Please see page 3 got to hear the country star posted. “Watch out for the perform at a sold-out show in Nashville. Cole and his parents, Bonnie Jean and Colby Ellison, were in attendance after receiving an invitation from Combs, who helped spark the internet sensation by sharing Bonnie Jean’s original video. That video, which Bonnie Jean posted July 29 on Facebook, shows young Cole singing the line, Luke Combs (center) invited his biggest (littlest) fan, three-year-old “Long-neck ice-cold beer Viral sensation Cole Ellison had one of the best Cole Ellison, and his parents, Bonnie Jean and Colby Ellison, to be his never broke my heart.” seats in the house for the Luke Combs concert special guests at a sold-out concert in Nashville. Somehow, the video -- third row, center. Index One section 131st Year, No. 2 Weather Looking Back ......... A-4 Entertainment ........ A-8 Friday 79˚ Saturday 83˚ Sunday 77˚ Religion .................. A-5 Sports .................... A-9 55˚ 65˚ 62˚ Living ..................... A-7 Classifieds .......... A-11 20% 70% A-2 Perry News-Herald January 10-11, 2020 Agner: ‘So, if it comes down to a local man and the woman isn’t local, you want to give it to the woman?’ DUNNELL automatically get this local an Office of Minorities awarded to local entities so record?” Dunnell the policy enough to know Continued from page 1 advantage.” like some other larger it stays in our community questioned. that the policy expresses “I just want to make districts who have a whole and continues to circulate.” “They said absolutely interest for the lowest bid,” and other suppliers who sure that we don’t just put department who make “These local people are not,” Glover replied. Dunnell said. reflect the great diversity language in here saying we sure that minorities have a the ones our kids knock At that point in the “So, I don’t think that we of our community. It is recognize they are registered competitive interviewing on their door and ask for meeting a member of the should be costing ourselves the policy of the Board to with the Florida Department process,” Dunnell said. donations,” Mathis said. audience, Douglas Wallace, more money just to keep promote and attain that of Management, but that “I know we are a small “To me it does not matter complained about board business local when our diversity by encouraging we go in there and offer district and don’t have the what color, race, what members whispering to interest is the lowest bid the participation of small them the opportunity to opportunity to do that at religion or anything...local each other. and best bid for our dollar. businesses including be competitive,” Dunnell this time, but who knows, people are local people.” “This is a public meeting, If we go in there and say those that are owned by added. the economy is projected “I wish that were true. and board members are up just because you are local women and minorities. “Say, for instance, with a to grow in the next 20-30 But, whether local or not, if there whispering amongst you get the contract....that Entities will be considered local preference, we offer years, and I would like for a woman or minority come themselves,” Wallace said. means we are probably to be a minority business locals the opportunity to us to make sure we have in with interest, I would “I told him (Chairman not worried about quality, enterprise (MBE) or come in and match that bid some language in there to like for them to have an Danny Lundy) that I was and it gives someone the woman-owned enterprise if they were not selected. I make sure that our women advantage. Because women ready to vote and call for a opportunity to sue us (WBE) if certified through would like to offer the same and minorities have the and minority businesses question,” Carlton stated.