The County Commission has finally approved furniture sought by judges at the Courts Building.
The commission earlier tabled a $59,024 bid for furniture for the Criminal Court judges over concerns about the bidding process.
The panel on Wednesday voted 7-2 in favor of a motion by Finance Committee Chairman Joe Graham to buy furniture for both the Criminal Courts and the General Sessions Courts. Purchasing Director Gail Ropi said the amount would be in the $87,000 range.
The order will be rebid and paid for from the capital outlay budget, according to the resolution.
County Attorney Rheubin Taylor recommended that the commission first dispose of the earlier tabled resolution, saying the county earlier had to pay $25,000 after a squabble about Clerk and Master office furniture. However, no action was taken on the earlier resolution.
The new resolution says there is to be no mileage restrictions or brand restrictions on the new bid, and it is open "to any commercial chair suppliers construction equivalent to Encore and Lesro brands, that meets or exceeds our standard purchasing requirements and the needs of these courtrooms, and has a manufacturer's warranty included with the bid submitted to our purchasing department."
Some commissioners were concerned that there was a 45-mile limit on the first bid. Ms. Ropo said when the county earlier bought furniture from a Tampa, Fla., supplier there was trouble with getting repairs.
Commissioner Marty Haynes said of Ms. Ropo, "We have embarrassed her greatly. I am offended by the way we have treated her. We have called into question her integrity and the way she runs her office."
Commissioners Graham and Warren Mackey said no offense was intended.
Commissioner Tim Boyd said Commissioner Haynes was not present during the furniture discussions by the finance committee. Commissioner Haynes said that was because he was conducting another committee meeting in another room at the same time. He suggested that all committee meetings be held at different times in the main commission room so no one will miss any meeting who wants to attend. Chairman Jim Fields said it is up to the committee chairman to decide where and when to hold a meeting.
Commissioner Sabrina Smedley, saying there was a dire need for the new chairs, said she had inspected the current ones twice. She said once she took a furniture representative who studied the earlier bid and concluded "that he couldn't touch it."