Columbus, Georgia

COUNCIL BRIEFING



February 19, 2002





A Council Briefing was held on Tuesday, February, 19, 2002 in the Council

Chamber Conference Room, on the Plaza Level of the Government Center, Columbus,

Georgia. Mayor Pro Tem Jack Rodgers, presiding.





PRESENT: Present other than Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers were Mayor Bobby G. Peters,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Berry Henderson, Robert Poydasheff, Richard Smith,

Nathan Suber, Evelyn Turner Pugh and Evelyn Woodson. Also present were City

Manager Carmen Cavezza; City Attorney Clifton Fay; Director of Finance Kay Love

and Director of Human Resources, Tom Barron.



ABSENT: NONE



ALSO PRESENT: Chris Brown, Fleet Management



This meeting was called to order at 8:34 a.m.





PURSUIT VEHICLES:



City Manager Cavezza reported that Mr. Mike Davis, from Mike Patton Dealership

is present today to discuss the Intrepid Pursuit Vehicle (Enforcer). He

explained that in December, a police officer was driving one of the vehicles,

as he was responding to a robbery, the engine failed. He said Mike Davis of

Mike Patton dealership was contacted regarding the problem, which he said the

vehicle would be replaced; but, as of February 18th, it has not been replaced.

His recommendation was to go with the Impala, the second lowest bid.





DIXIE CHOPPER LAWNMOWER:



City Manager Cavezza referred issue of buying a lawnmower from Hamilton

Hardware Company. He explained this was not the lowest bidder, but the third

lowest bidder. The reason he said is due to maintenance on repairing the

clutch. He further explained that Dixie Choppers have been used for three

years and have proved to be very good. He said it doesn?t have an electric

clutch, which has to be replaced every 60 hours. He said in the long run, the

Dixie Chopper is cheaper. Citing an example, he said since 1997, we installed

clutches in the Grasshoppers, and based on that the cost of replacement for the

clutches was $5,796.00; As far as the Dixie Chopper, since 1999, seven belts

have been replaced at the cost of $157.29. He said mechanics recommend the

Dixie Chopper as the best mower.



At this time, Councilors questioned the bidding process, which City Manager

explained that modification was done before the bidding and selecting process.



Responding to Councilor Rodgers question if you knew X-Marks came with electric

clutches, Chris Brown responded that he did not know all the facts at that

time. Due to the uncertainty, Councilor Rodger asked that the decision on this

issue be delayed for one week, so that both sides can be heard.



Continuing to seek clarification, Councilor Henderson asked when we sent

request for a re-bid, did we say that the electric clutches would be acceptable.



At this point, City Manager Cavezza said this matter would be delayed for one

week and that, a couple of mistakes were made, by opening it up to more testing

, that is where we made our basic error.



There being no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 8:51 a.m.





__________________________

Gloria A. Carey