×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Seek Bids For Care Center

Suppose your neighbor called the mayor of your town, said he’d heard the police chief was complaining about the cost of keeping a certain police cruiser repaired and offered to take the car off the police department’s hands for a few thousand dollars. Then suppose the mayor accepted the deal.

Would you and other municipal taxpayers be upset? In all likelihood, you would. What if someone else would have paid more for the cruiser?

That is why sale of any property, ranging from cars to land and buildings, by a local government is covered by state laws. Often, they require that items for sale be advertised and bids be accepted. That nets the best price possible for the local government entity — and taxpayers.

Monroe County commissioners are in a similar situation. Two of them, Carl Davis and Tim Price, would like to sell the county-owned Monroe County Care Center. It has been a severe drain on county finances, they point out.

So, several weeks ago, Price and Davis agreed to sell the facility to a man who offered $500,000. Commissioner Mick Schumacher voted no.

Then a Jerusalem resident, Carson McCurdy, objected. Commissioners should have sought other buyers, he said. He filed a lawsuit over the matter and said he might be willing to pay more than $500,000.

McCurdy dropped the lawsuit, after commissioners agreed to discuss the matter and furnish more information on the center.

Last week, McCurdy sought additional financial information about the center. Then, Price and Davis voted to enter into a facility management agreement for the center, with a company created by the potential $500,000 buyer. Schumacher voted no.

That prompted McCurdy to say he may refile his lawsuit. He asked whether commissioners are seeking other potential buyers of the center — and was told Davis and Price are consulting with the county prosecuting attorney over whether they can do that legally, in view of the fact they have signed an agreement to sell the facility.

McCurdy is not the only person upset about the $500,000 deal. County Auditor Pandora Neuhart remarked last week that accepting that much for the center is “a real slap in the face to the county.”

What an enormous mess. If at all possible, Price and Davis should seek to extricate the county from the $500,000 purchase deal — and advertise for bids on the center. It may not be too late for them to rectify the serious mistake made weeks ago.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today